With its grand causeway climbing up the hill, the temple is supposed to be a stylised representation of Mount Meru, the habitat of gods according to Hindu mythology. Among the sculptures carved on the walls is a depiction of the Hindu mythological story of "churning of the ocean".

In 1962, the International Court of Justice ruled that the temple was firmly in Cambodia. But with the country plunged into civil war after 1970, the Khmer Rouge used the temple as a military campl, and it was the scene of some pitched battles.

Before the court case, Cambodia severed diplomatic ties with Thailand. Thailand sealed the border, and there were almost daily anti-Cambodia protests in Bangkok and the provinces, some with hundreds of thousands protesting what they called Cambodian seizure of Thai land.

When the Court gave the temple to Cambodia despite the pleading of official Thai advocate M.R. Seni Pramoj, dictator Field Marshal Sarit Thanarat threatened to blockade the temple and prevent Cambodia from taking control. His Majesty the King intervened, saying the court's order would be obeyed.

Thailand and Cambodia have had frequent spats over the temple since then.

The latest was last June, when Thailand asked Unesco to dismiss a request by Cambodia to grant the temple status as a world heritage site. Unesco sided with Thailand but also asked Cambodia to reapply in 2008 with a joint management plan with Thailand.

At that time, the Thai embassy in Phnom Penh warned Thai citizens in Cambodia to remain on alert for possible riots. There was no violence, however.

Even now, while a majority of the visitors come from Thailand to the temple, they are greeted by a large Cambodian flag atop the temple and a signboard, "I have pride to be born as a Khmer".