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Hun Manet Hails Restoration of Giant Shiva Statue in Southeast Asia

Terry Felix​​​​   On March 20, 2026 - 6:43 am​   In Asia Pacific   1mn Read
Hun Manet Hails Restoration of Giant Shiva Statue in Southeast Asia Hun Manet Hails Restoration of Giant Shiva Statue in Southeast Asia

PHNOM PENH, March 20, 2026 — Cambodia’s Prime Minister Hun Manet on Friday welcomed the successful restoration of one of Southeast Asia’s largest Shiva statues, hailing it as a milestone in the preservation of the country’s cultural heritage.

The five-metre-tall sandstone statue, weighing around seven tonnes, depicts the Hindu deity Shiva in a dancing form and is considered one of the largest of its kind in Cambodia. The sculpture had been found in more than 10,000 fragments after collapsing centuries ago.

The restoration, which took more than five years from 2020 to 2026, was carried out through cooperation between the Preah Vihear National Authority and the École française d’Extrême-Orient, with support from international heritage partners.

The statue, originating from the Koh Ker archaeological site, is notable for its five faces and ten arms. It is believed to have collapsed in the 14th century and suffered further damage during periods of conflict and looting.

Hun Manet described the restoration as a symbol of Cambodia’s resilience and commitment to safeguarding its cultural legacy for future generations.

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