Cambodia’s Sambor Prei Kuk temple zone on World Heritage List

Phnom Penh, July 9 (IANS) Cambodia's Sambor Prei Kuk archaeological site has been inscribed on the Unesco's World Heritage List, bringing the country's tangible cultural properties in the list to three, the Culture Ministry said on Sunday.

The inscription was made on Saturday during the World Heritage Committee's 41st session in Krakow, Poland, Xinhua news agency cited the statement as saying.

The site was listed thanks to its "outstanding universal value", the ministry said in a statement.

"This is a new and great national pride that happened from the effort by the Royal Government of Cambodia under the wise leadership of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen," it said.

"This also truly reflects the government's effort in preserving and developing heritage."

The seventh century Sambor Prei Kuk temple, built by King Isanavarman I, is the most important religious centre of the pre-Angkorian era. The site is located in a quiet patch of forest in Kampong Thom province, about 193 km north of capital Phnom Penh.

To date, three tangible cultural properties in Cambodia have been placed on the world heritage list.

The first two listed properties are Angkor archaeological park inscribed in 1992 and the Temple of Preah Vihear included in 2008.

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