NEW DELHI: The place shot to fame after being featured in Hollywood actress Angelina Jolie’s starrer Tomb Raider. But it is the Indian archaeologists who are restoring Ta Prohm temple near Angkor Wat to its ancient glory and the project has now entered in its third phase.
The temple dating back to 12th century is said to be dedicated to the Hindu deity Brahma and is part of the Angkor Wat temple complex. The third phase of the project has been launched by a team from the Archaeological Survey of India and is being carried out under the supervision of a multi-national committee of 20 countries.
The project is estimated to cost Rs. 27 crore and would take 10 years to complete. The first phase of the project had started in 2004 following then Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee’s visit to Cambodia. The Cambodian Government had requested India to help in salvaging the temple as it has been encumbered by huge tree roots. “The ASI has decided to not to cut the trees to retain the ancient glory of the heritage complex,” ASI officials said.
Before Ta Prohm, the ASI had restored the Angkor Wat temple complex from 1986 to 1993.
It has been part of India’s religion diplomacy as it has been restoring heritage complex in South East Asian country. India has also offered help to Vietnam to restore a Hindu temple in the country belonging to the Champ civilization. The Myson temple has a striking resemblance to Indian temples built during the same period.
The ASI has already surveyed the temple located in the Quang Nam Province and would take care of the reconstruction work.