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Bangkok,
Thailand, June 10, 2003 --
The historic Khmer temple of Khao
Phra Viharn, which straddles the Thai-Cambodian
border, has been reopened to visitors
after a two-year closure due to environmental
problems.
Though
officially a part of Cambodian territory,
the temple, known as Phrea Vihear
in the Khmer (Cambodian) language,
can be visited from both the Thai
and Cambodian sides of the border.
From
the Thai side, visitors can pass through
the Khao Phra Viharn national park
in Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani
provinces. The park has numerous other
natural attractions like waterfalls,
caves and walking trails which are
open to visitors.
Thai
visitors have to pay 20 baht, and
international visitors 200 baht to
enter the national park, and a further
50 baht or 200 baht respectively to
enter the Khao Phra Viharn area. Passports
are not necessary for foreign visitors.
Two
other access points are available
from the Cambodian side. Tourism Authority
of Thailand (TAT) Governor Mrs. Juthamas
Siriwan said, "Khao Phra Viharn
is one of the most important historical
temples in the Mekong region. We welcome
the re-opening because it will give
a major boost to travel to the Northeast
Thailand region."
She
noted that Northeast Thailand is one
of the richest in terms of cultural
attractions but also very much in
need of economic development. Hence,
the better the attractions, the greater
the likelihood that visitors will
try and include it in their itineraries.
Thailand
and Cambodia have discussed the possibility
of developing the area into a major
tourist area via a proper and well-regulated
master plan. The temple is located
about 630 kilometres from Bangkok
and 95 kilometres from Si Sa Ket province.
On the Cambodian side, it is 405 kilometres
from Phnom Penh or 108 kilometres
from the provincial town of Phrea
Vihear.
The
hilltop temple is reachable by a steep
ascent from the Cambodian side but
a more gently sloping ascent from
the Thai side.
Phrea
Vihear temple was built at the end
of 9th century and at the
beginning of 10th century
by four Cambodian kings. It was the
subject of a territorial dispute between
Thailand and Cambodia for several
years but was officially declared
to be a part of Cambodia in 1962.
Contact
PR Division
Tel: 66 2 250 5500 ext. 1565-9
Fax: 66 2 250 5682
E-mail: prdiv3@tat.or.th
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