The Archaeological Survey of India staff and hundreds of skilled Cambodian labourers spent seven work seasons, from 1986 to 1993, on a large project restoring Angkor Wat. The author was Indian ambassador in Cambodia during part of this period, and he has carefully documented the restoration and preservation work, and explained the significance of the Angkor monuments in terms of Indian historical and religious traditions. This book is thus an invaluable companion in understanding the monuments, bas-reliefs and sculptures of Angkor, as well as a convincing piece of documentation on the restoration and preservation work carried out during a difficult period in Cambodian history
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
Review
On the whole, Bhandari's present monograph, "Saving Angkor" is a lucidly written book with excellent and well- produced illustrations. While analysing various aspects of the topic under reference, the author shows remarkable clarity and precision of a historian, objectivity of an archaeologist, insight of an art critic and cultural awareness of a diplomat. His fine work is useful both to the scholar and the lay reader for its intrinsic merit. -- India Perspectives, November 1996
The author's strength undoubtedly lies in his deep understanding of Indian religious and traditional beliefs as they were expressed in the Angkorean era. Thus the reader becomes acquainted with bhakti, the South Indian devotion cult, and its spread to Cambodia in the late 8th century. The book also includes a chapter devoted to central themes in the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, in order to give an understanding of the intricate sculptures of Angkor
The author's strength undoubtedly lies in his deep understanding of Indian religious and traditional beliefs as they were expressed in the Angkorean era. Thus the reader becomes acquainted with bhakti, the South Indian devotion cult, and its spread to Cambodia in the late 8th century. The book also includes a chapter devoted to central themes in the Indian epics Ramayana and Mahabharata, in order to give an understanding of the intricate sculptures of Angkor
An interesting examination is made of the bas-reliefs sculptured on the walls of Angkor Wat; many of the depictions are drawn from Ramayana and Mahabharata. The author guides the reader to the third enclosure galleries, explaining the meaning of the inner of the wall reliefs. One of the best executed panels, according to C.M. Bhandari, is a depiction of a battle between Rama and Ravana in the Ramayana Gallery.
The second part of the book deals with what the author calls "the Quest", that is, saving Angkor. We are given a brief history of previous efforts to restore and maintain the temples by former Khmer king and ultimately by the French, beginning in the mid-19th century
In 1907, after Cambodia had become a French protectorate and following Angkor's return to Cambodia from Thai rule, the management of the monuments was taken over by l'Ecole Francaise d'Extreme Orient, which then set up the Angkor Conservation Board
Saving Angkor, richly illustrated and spiced with details, makes good supplementary reading while you are resting in the shade of one of the magnificent temples. -- Peter Biro Angkor, April/June 1997
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