Updated

The main road alongside Cambodia's famed Angkor Wat temple is now off-limits to cars as authorities seek to ease traffic jams at the site that draws 2.1 million tourists a year.

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen announced the measure on his Facebook page Tuesday.

The new rule applies to a 300-meter (985-foot) stretch of road in front of Angkor Wat. Cars and tourist vans can still drive around other temples in the Angkor Archaeological Park, a 400-square kilometer (160-square mile) complex.

Angkor Wat, the country's biggest tourist attraction, was built between the ninth and 14th centuries. It is a symbol of national pride, emblazoned on the Cambodian flag, and a UNESCO World Heritage site.