Perched atop a cliff on the Thai-Cambodian border, the 11th-century Shiva temple of Preah Vihear has become both a symbol of spiritual devotion and a source of intense territorial conflict. Once a center of Shaivite worship in the Khmer Empire, it is now at the heart of a long-standing dispute between Cambodia and Thailand—culminating in international court rulings, military standoffs, and renewed violence. This article explores its history, heritage, and ongoing significance