No Angkor copy cats

SIEM REAP  India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has once again affirmed that it will not allow a replica of Angkor Wat to be built in India.
Khmer Times quoted the ministry spokesman, Chum Sounry, saying based on instructions from the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hor Namhong, Cambodia’s Ambassador to India Pich Khun Panha has met with officials there to discuss the issue.
“India confirmed and promised that they would not build a temple in the style of Angkor Wat, and we welcomed their promises,” the spokesman cited.
inside no 3India’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs secretary, Monika K Mohta, added that Mahavir Mandir Trust had been informed that “we will not allow them to build a temple copying Angkor’s style and the company has promised that it will comply.”
“They will also need to send a building plan to the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs before they start to build a tourist site,” she added.
Cambodia lodged an official complaint, last June, with the Indian government over the plan to build a replica of Angkor Wat. The construction reportedly was halted after Cambodia sent a diplomatic protest note to India.
India’s Mahavir Mandir Trust planned to construct the Viraat Ramayan Mandir, a massive Hindu temple complex with striking similarities to Angkor Wat, Cambodia’s most famous and valuable tourist attraction.
The USD20-million, 10-year project was announced in 2012 by the Mahavir Mandir Trust and construction was due to start last June, at a site in the northern Indian province of Bihar.
According to APSARA Authority, 1.67 million international tourists visited Angkor temples during January to October this year, a 2% increase compared to the same period last year.
In October alone, 153,308 foreign tourists visited Angkor temples up 4.09%. It generated revenue of over USD4.3 million from Angkor ticket sales, up 4.52% compared with the same period last year.
The entrance fees for Angkor temples and monuments in Siem Reap cost USD20 for a day visit, USD40 for three days and USD60 for a week.
The park was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1992 .

sourced:ttrweekly.com