Siem Reap: Specialists from the APSARA National Authority are continuing to repair the steps and banks of Angkor Wat’s northern pond to save its damaged ancient structure and restore the landscape, according to the authority’s Facebook post yesterday, July 10, 2026.
This sixth phase of restoration began in mid-May 2026 and is scheduled to finish in 2026. ភិន វិជ្ជាសុច្ចរ៉ា, a technical officer in APSARA’s Department of Conservation of Monuments and Archaeology, said her team was repairing a 56-metre section of the northern pond’s steps and banks in the final phase. The pond’s structure has deteriorated, and heavy sediment deposits have obscured its original form. Many steps have become buried in soil. Some bank stones have deteriorated through water absorption, while exposure to sunlight and warm, damp conditions has made sandstone more prone to breaking. Missing stones in some places have left gaps through which flowing water washes soil into the pond.
APSARA’s specialists first dismantle the stones layer by layer and move them to another location to facilitate repairs. They then lay a fabric layer, which plays an important role in preventing soil from being washed away.
Research for the project to strengthen Angkor Wat’s northern pond began in 2019. Before each restoration phase, specialists carry out preparations including excavations to study the original condition, comprehensive measured drawings, plan studies, and documentation submitted to the International Coordinating Committee for Angkor and Sambor Prei Kuk for support. Before restoration, ICC-Angkor/Sambor Prei Kuk also required structural studies and analysis of the damage. By: ធី លីថូ
