Siem Reap, Cambodia — March 22: P Kumaran, Secretary (East) in India’s Ministry of External Affairs, visited the Angkor Wat temple complex during an official trip to Siem Reap, underscoring centuries-old civilisational links between India and Cambodia. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal noted on X that the visit reaffirmed India’s role in conserving this UNESCO World Heritage site and the deep people-to-people and cultural ties between New Delhi and Phnom Penh.
India was the first country to offer restoration assistance to Angkor Wat after Cambodia’s period of conflict, responding to a Cambodian request in the late 20th century. Between 1986 and 1993 the Archaeological Survey of India carried out stabilisation and conservation work on key sections of the complex, helping to revive one of Cambodia’s most iconic monuments and fostering long-term goodwill. India’s heritage cooperation in the region has also included projects at Ta Prohm and Preah Vihear as part of cultural diplomacy under its Act East Policy.
Built in the 12th century by Khmer emperor Suryavarman II as a Hindu temple and later evolving into a major Buddhist complex, Angkor Wat’s towers, bas-reliefs and Sanskrit inscriptions reflect strong Indian religious and artistic influences, including themes from Hindu epics that testify to sustained cultural exchange over many centuries.
Kumaran’s visit, which coincided with high-level bilateral engagements in Siem Reap, reiterated commitments to deepen cooperation in cultural preservation, tourism and heritage management. It also aligned with broader efforts to expand India–Cambodia collaboration in education, trade and strategic partnership, reinforcing the civilisational bonds that underpin diplomatic ties in the Indo-Pacific.
