Judging from the number of mentions in the media, this has been the biggest trending story for Southeast Asian Arrchaeology this week. India announced that they would be building a replica of Angkor Wat at Bihar, which would be the taller than the original in Cambodia and the tallest Hindu temple in the world after it is completed in 10 years time. The new temple will be called Virat Angkor Wat Ram temple. I’m not sure what the Cambodian reaction is to this, but reading some Cambodian forums I get the sense some of discomfort from replicating Angkor Wat because it is a national icon. What do you think? Is building a replica of Angkor Wat a good idea? Would it be a good tourist draw? Would it draw tourists away from the original Angkor Wat? (which may not be such a bad thing…)
Angkor Wat temple replica’s foundation-laying begins in India
Global Post, 05 March 2012
Angkor Wat temple ‘Bhumi-pujan’ today
The Times of India, 05 March 2012
India Plans Angkor Wat Replica
Huffington Post, 05 March 2012
By Ganga in Bihar, a new Angkor Wat rises
AFP, via The Asian Age, 06 March 2012
India building replica of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat
AP, via The Star, 06 March 2012
India constructing larger replica of Angkor Wat
CNNgo, 06 March 2012
Angkor Wat in India? 20M Replica to Rise in Bihar
International Business Times, 06 March 2012
Re-Khmerization of Indian temples – first in Kampuchia, now in India
Mark my words- this thing will never be finished. They’ll be lucky if they even get a foundation in!
Well, they did manage to get a foundation in, technically. We’ll see if they manage to get a temple up in 10 years.