A Holy Monastery Hidden from the World

Posted by Janelle Nanos on June 24, 2009
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Preah-Vihear-picture-64.jpgGuarded by giant seven-headed serpent gods high on an obscure mountain, in backcountry disputed by Thailand and Cambodia, is an ancient sacred site that’s not on the regular tourist map.

 

Surrounded by landmines and bunkers from the Khmer Rouge era, and still caught up in today’s border disputes, Preah Vihear, or “Holy Monastery,” is a mysterious place few westerners have been able to visit.

 

Jon Ortner, photographer and author of the book “Angkor, Celestial Temples of the Khmer Empire,” shares his first encounters and impressions of the thousand-year-old sanctuary in this essay of words and photos

composed especially for NatGeo News Watch.

[NatGeo News Watch]

Read More: IT’s coverage of Angkor Wat; National Geographic Magazine’s cover feature this month, Divining Angkor.

Photo: Jon Ortner

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Comments

  1. Travel solutions
    June 25, 2009, 12:11 pm

    We have sought out many ancient ashrams and monastaries around the world, though have not been to this particular region. There is a certain ambiance that you cannot find anywhere but old monestaries like this. Great picture too!

  2. Capstan
    February 17, 2010, 10:29 am

    Thanks a lot for sharing this article. I enjoyed the article while reading. We all should look for Hidden Holy Monastery around us before these monastery become hidden for ever. That’s true, there are lots of monastery in hidden that we even do not know.
    Hidden Holy Monastery