Storm damage at Ta Promh

Cambodia News (Phnom Penh): On April 13, 2020, heavy rainfall and a storm caused some damage to trees in the Ta Prohm Temple, Siem Reap. The temple, which is situated in the Ankor Wat Archeological Park, is under reconstruction at the moment.
Ta Promh became known worldwide to the general public when it was used as a location in the film Laura Croft:Tomb Raider, starring Angelina Jolie. The site is known for the magnificent trees which have grown up inside the temple walls.


Mr. Long Kosa, from the Apsara authorities, reported that after receiving information about the storm damage, he ordered a work team to remove the fallen trees to prevent further damage to the Ta Promh temple stonework. The storm last night had exceptionally strong winds causing unexpected damage to the trees at the site.

UPDATE
Restoration of Ta Prohm’s East Gate is 35 Percent Complete
AKP Phnom Penh, October 18, 2022 --

The renovation project of the east gate of Ta Prohm Temple is 35 percent complete as of mid-October, and is scheduled to be fully completed by 2023, according to the APSARA National Authority (ANA).

The team is currently restoring and installing stones in the north, south, and the roof, and about 50 percent of the roof has been restored, it added.

As for the restoration process, Ms. Net Simon, Archaeologist of the Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, explained that all the stones had to be moved to repair, and the team needed to strengthen the foundation and re-arrange the stones. A small number of stones are fragile and some are missing, requiring only a small amount of new stones.

ANA, in cooperation with Indian institutions and with the approval of the ICC-Angkor, began in early 2022 to renovate the east gate, which was so dilapidated that the structure of the gate was tilted, posing a high risk to tourists.
https://www.akp.gov.kh/post/detail/264243

Cambodia News (Siem Reap Province): According to an announcement by the Apsara Authorities on January 6, 2023, the Apsara Authorities are working with ASI from India in the conservation and reparation of the northern gate of Ta Promh temple.

According to Sing Sood, the director of the India-Cambodia cooperation project, the conservation starts in January 2023 on the northern gate and the walls extending 20 meters from 2 sides. The project is expected to be completed within 2 years under the Anastylosis method.

APSARA Authority and Indian Team Repair Ta Prohm Tower Sandstone Floor
Jan 24, 2023

Cambodia News, ( Siem Reap): The Apsara Authority, in collaboration with Indian experts, is repairing the sandstone floor of the central tower of Ta Prohm in order to put a large renovated statue back in to its original central location, after it was removed for safety reasons.



On the afternoon of January 24, 2023, Mr Sing Sood, the implementer of the Indo-Cambodian project at Ta Prohm said that the two institutions decided to repair the sandstone floor.: "First, the team excavated the rock, studied the original location of the rock, cleaned the rock and repaired the rock. If any roof stone was found to fall to this site, the team will put it back to its original location.

"After the sandstone flooring has been improved, the pedestals believed to have been used for the wisdom statue will be re-placed at this location, and tourists will be able to pass safely," he said. This work is scheduled to be completed in late February 2023.

More photos of the site: https://www.rasmeinews.com/archives/745112

Repair of Sandstone Floor in Central Tower of Ta Prohm Completed
AKP Phnom Penh, February 23, 2023 --
The repair of the sandstone floor in the central tower of Ta Prohm, conducted by the APSARA National Authority in cooperation with India, has been completed.
The restoration work started on Jan. 21, 2023 and ended on Feb. 22, said a news release of the APSARA National Authority.


Mr. Chan Lay of the India-Cambodia Cooperation Project for the Preservation and Restoration of Ta Prohm, said that in the process of preparing the sandstone floor in the central tower, the renovation team first moved the scattered sandstone to excavate to find the original location of those stones.

Then the team cleaned and repaired the stones as well as gathered some stones such as roof stones and other structural stones that have fallen and arranged to be safe for both stones and tourists and to be easy to be repositioned in the future if needed, he pointed out.


Mr. Chan Lay said that after preparing the sandstone floor, the team decided to take the pedestal made of sandstone, which is believed to have the role of holding the statue to put it back in its original position, which was moved in the past. To organise the tour, and to prevent the entry of various objects into the holes of the pedestal or fallen leaves, leading to the loss of value and maintaining good order, the team put clear glass from above, but the tourists can still see the shape of the pedestal normally.
By Phal Sophanith
AKP