(Phnom Penh): The APSARA National Authority, through its Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, is restoring and reinforcing a 20-meter section of the western naga balustrade in the first southern section of Angkor Wat.

Soy Sophearin, an archaeologist at the APSARA National Authority, explained that this section of the naga balustrade had completely collapsed over time, making structural restoration and reinforcement necessary.

Because the site is one of the most popular locations where visitors take photographs overlooking the southern pond with the iconic reflection of Angkor Wat, the APSARA National Authority prioritized the conservation of this highly visited area.

The restoration project began in June 2026 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year. Conservation experts have carefully dismantled unstable stones, replaced damaged blocks, carved new pedestal elements, and produced new naga body sections to replace those that were missing or too deteriorated to be reused.

According to the experts, the 20-meter section originally consisted of eight naga body segments supported by nine pedestals. However, the surviving original stones are sufficient to reconstruct only three to four naga body sections, while the remaining portions require newly carved replacement stones.

In addition to the ongoing restoration, the APSARA National Authority is preparing a comprehensive risk map of naga balustrades throughout the Angkor Wat complex.

The assessment will help identify vulnerable sections and guide future conservation and restoration work.
=FRESH NEWS