The largest reclining Buddha in Cambodia now open

After a monumental effort by the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme-Orient, the largest reclining Buddha in Cambodia has been restored in its original position at the Baphuon and is now open to the public.

photo credit: dalbera

Largest Cambodian Buddha resurrected in Siem Reap
Xinhua, via People’s Daily Online, 04 June 2008

The Buddha is a 16th century addition to the west face of the 11th century Hindu Baphuon temple, the newspaper said, adding that it marks a religious schism between the Brahmanic Angkor society and the Buddhist culture that arose later.

The Buddha is one of the final stages of the reconstruction of the temple, with the three tiered monument slated to be fully open to the public by the end of 2009.