On Saturday, March 21, 2026, Her Excellency Academician Dr. Phoeurng Sackona, Minister of Culture and Fine Arts, conducted an inspection of the Preah Vihar Athaross Museum. The temple and the Athaross Buddha statue underwent extensive restoration and conservation conducted by the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts from 2019 to 2025. This work was carried out with the utmost care to ensure the long-term preservation of both the temple structure and the sacred Buddha statue.
It should be noted that the Athaross Buddha and its temple were constructed during the Middle Period, likely during the reign of King Ang Chan in 1546. The construction utilized ancient stones from the Angkorian era, specifically following the 11th-century Khleang style, and has been subject to successive restorations by Khmer monarchs and authorities throughout history.
The Preah Vihar Athaross will now serve as a cultural museum and a new tourism destination on Phnom Preah Reach Troap (also known as Phnom Athaross), while also providing a valuable research site for students and scholars.
