Preah Vihear
Preah Vihéar is a Provinces of Cambodia. Preah Vihéar area is 13788
Introduction
Preah Vihear is perched on a hilltop with a commanding view of its surroundings. Predating Angkor Wat by 100 years, the history of the temple/fortress is somewhat unclear, but it is known to be dedicated to the god Shiva and thought to have been constructed in the reign of Suryavarman I (1002-50), with further significant additions by Suryavarman II (1113-50).
Long considered to be inside Thailand, King Sihanouk of Cambodia claimed the temple on the basis of French colonial maps. The Thai government agreed to submit the dispute to the International Court of Justice, which in 1962 issued a controversial ruling awarding Preah Vihear to Cambodia - which soon after plunged into civil war. The temple was open to the public from Thailand (although unreachable from Cambodia) until 1975, when it was occupied by the Khmer Rouge (whose rusting artillery guns still litter the area). It re-opened from the Thai side in 1998, and in 2003 Cambodia completed the construction of a long-awaited access road allowing Cambodians to visit the temple.
People
There are 81,318 male and 78,233 female with total: 160,551. 24-02-2007
Get in
While the temple is located in Cambodia, access to the temple is possible both from Thailand as well, with no Cambodian visa required.
Due to a pending World Heritage Site nomination and the lingering border dispute, Thailand blocked access to the site from its side in July 2007. Enquire locally.
The temple is at the end of Route 221, but public transport options are limited and the easiest option is to charter a car for the day (1000 baht and up, plus gas). The roads are surprisingly good and, depending on how hard your driver hits the gas pedal and/or how many water buffaloes decide to cross the road along the way, you can get there from Ubon in an hour and a half.
If this is out of your budget, the nearest town of any size is Kantharalak, which can be accessed by frequent public bus in 2 hours or so from the nearby towns of Ubon Ratchathani and Si Saket. For the last leg of the trip (34 km), however, you will have to hitchhike or charter a songthaew/tuk-tuk/moto taxi.
At the entry gate into Khao Phra Wiharn National Park, you will have to pay a 200 baht entry fee (Thais 20 baht); note that the park is open only from 08:00 to 15:30. The road ends at a large parking lot, the final leg (less than a kilometer) into Cambodian territory you will have to cover on foot. At the Thai immigration post you'll be charged an additional 5 baht for a second ticket, and you'll also have to show your passport - they'll take a photocopy, but no stamps are issued and no visas are needed. After the road ends, walk over the smooth rock surface to the entry gate and pay another 200 baht fee (this one to enter Cambodia) and get your ticket punched, and now you can proceed to the ruins.
A packed laterite access road from Siem Reap via Anlong Veng, a distance of over 200 km, was completed in 2003.
A new road has been constructed linking Siem Reap to Koh Ker. From there, it's an ardous day ride on badly worn out dirt and sand tracks to Preah Vihear.
You can also reach the place on a three days motorbike trip from Kompong Thom
Get around
The only way to get around is on foot. The 500m elevation and the resulting breeze provide some relief, but it's still a hot and sticky 120m (vertical) up the hill.
From the Cambodian side, you can hire a motorbike-taxi to take you up the steep ascent to the temple.