ANGKOR TEMPLES IN CAMBODIA
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Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia

Phnom Penh became Cambodia's capital in 1434 for a first time, after King Ponhea Yat had to flee from Siamese invaders attacking Angkor in 1432. He is said to have founded the Royal Palace and five monasteries, namely Wat Phnom, Wat Botum, Wat Koh, Wat Lanka and Wat Ounalom, all of which survive today. But their buildings are from a much later date. In 1812, during a period of Siamese hegemony, Phnom Penh became the capital again for a short time. In 1863, King Norodom, who signed the treaty to become a French protectorate, finally shifted the capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh. On April 17, 1975, the Khmer Rouge entered Phnom Penh, welcomed as liberators from the US-backed regime and as harbingers of peace. But within hours the population was ordered to leave the city completely. Buildings were destroyed later on. For four years Phnom Penh remained left as a ghost town.

Russian market in Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is situated at the confluence of Cambodia's 2 most important rivers, the mighty Mekong and the Tonle Sap, and at the fork of the two most important Mekong Delta distributaries at the same time, the southern arm being the Bassac river.

Two million people live in Phnom Penh. Foreign guests can expect an amalgam of Asian tradition, colonial flair and modern facilities.

The most vibrant parts of the city are the large market halls and their immediate surroundings. Apart from the French colonial Central Market, there is the even larger Russian Market, which is a relic of the period of the Vietnamese war.


Wat Phnom Wat

stairway to the mound of Wat Phnom Wat in Phnom Penh
Phnom Daun Penh is the name-giving monument of the city. A Wat is a monastery, a Phnom is a hill. Indeed, this monastery is situated on the only natural mound close to the confluence of Cambodia's major rivers. The hill is 27 m high. The temple was founded in 1432. It was built to house five Buddha statues, four cast in bronze and one carved in stone. In 1373, they had been floating down the Mekong river in a trunk of a holy Koki tree, when they were found and saved by an old rich widow, who placed them on top of this hill. Her name was Daun Penh, meaning "Grandmother Penh". At the northern slope of the Theravada Buddhist pagoda there is a Chinese sanctuary, too. To the north of the hill is the former French administrative area, with many fine example of colonial style buildings from the beginning of the 20th century, some of them restored.


Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

At the park-like promenade running along the Tonle Sap, there is Phnom Penh's major attraction, the Royal Palace including the sacred compound of the Silver Pagoda. It is inspired by Siamese temple compounds, Phnom Penh's silver Pagoda can be considered to be a smaller-scale version of the Wat Phra Keo at the Royal Palace in Bangkok. The buildings were ercted in the 19th century with French technology. Surprisingly, they have survived the years of the Khmer Rouge regime well intact.

National Museum in Phnom Penh

The National Museum is a red building, an ensemble of airy halls encompassing a central courtyard. It houses a collection of masterpieces of ancient Cambodian sculptures, presented in chronological order. The best examples of pre-Angkorian statues can be studied here, those from the earlier periods, from Phnom Da (Funan era) and Sambor Prei Kuk (Chen La era), belong to the most remarkable, too. Much-admired dynamic stone carvings from Koh Ker are in this museum for safekeeping. In the middle of the central courtyard is the original statue of the "Leper King" from the Terrace of the name in Angkor Thom. Phnom Penh National Museum's most famous highlight is the head of a statue depicting Angkor Thom founder Jayavarman VII., now reunited with the body of the original sculptue. The king is portrayed in meditation post.

Central Market in Phnom Penh

Central Market in Phnom Penh
The Art Deco dome of the Central Market is a kind of colonial landmark of Phnom Penh, which sometimes was called "Little Paris of the East". The Khmer name "Psar Thmei" means "New Market". It was built in the 1930s. In this market area you will find silver jewellery, clothing, flowers, video games, souvenirs.


Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

Cambodia's most important Genocide Museum is the former central prison of the Khmer Rouge regime, in four blocks of a former school. More than 14,000 prisoners were tortured in Tuol Sleng before being killed here or after deportation to the Killing Fields. Only about two hundred prisoners survived (the numbers 7 or 14 are not accurate). After the infamous "skull map" has been dismantled, the museum is a dignified documentation centre, more informative than the emotionalizing presentation of the Choeung Ek Killing Fields outside town. However, respecting the victims, refrain from taking souvenir photos of skull collections. You should wear respectable clothing; long trousers or skirts and sleeved shirts.

Surroundings of Phnom Penh

There are several rewarding day-trips from Phnom Penh to further destinations in its vicinity, for example to the former capitals Oudong and Lovek. The most popular excursion is to the Angkor-era temples of Tonle Bati and Phnom Chiso. On the way there are the notorious "killing fields" of Choeung Ek, now a memorial and museum offering an audio-guide explaining the Khmer Rouge history and the locations along a memorial round path.

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A-Z

famous attractions are marked bold, highly recommendable hidden treasures in bold italic letters
Ak Yum
An Kau Say
Angkor
Angkor Borei
Angkor Wat
Athvear

Bakan
Bakheng
Baksei Chamkrong
Bakong
Bang Melea
Banteay Chhmar
Banteay Kdei
Banteay Prei
Banteay Samray
Banteay Srei
Banteay Thom
Baphuon
Bat Chum
Battambang
Bayon
Bei Prasat

Chapel of the Hospital
Chau Say Tevoda
Chau Say Vibol
Chisor
Civility
Climate
Corners of Angkor Thom

East Gate of Angkor Thom
East Mebon
Elephant Terrace

Food
Geography
Günter Schönlein Blog

History
Hospital Chapel

Jayendranagari
Jungle Temples
Jungle Temple of Angkor

Kampong Som
Kapilapura
Kbal Spean
Kep
Khleang (north)
Khleang (south)
Koh Ker
Kok Po
Krol Ko
Krol Romeas
Kutishvara

Leak Neang
Leper King Terrace
Lolei

Mangalartha
Mebon East
Mebon West
Monument 486
Monument 487

Neam Rup
Neak Pean
North Gate of Angkor Thom
Northern Khleang
Phimeanakas
Phnom Bakheng
Phnom Bok
Phnom Chisor
Phnom Da
Phnom Krom
Phnom Kulen
Phnom Penh
Phnom Rung at Angkor
Prampil Loveng
Prasat Char
Prasat Chrung
Prasat Bakan
Prasat Banteay Thom
Prasat Kravan
Prasat Leak Neang
Prasat O Ka-aek
Prasat Prei
Prasat Sampeau at Angkor
Prasat Sralao at Angkor
Prasat Suor Prat
Prasat Tonle Snguot
Prasat Top at Pre Rup
Prasat Top West
Prasat Tor
Pre Rup
Preah Khan at Angkor
Preah Khan Kampong Svay
Preah Ko
Preah Ngok
Preah Palilay
Preah Pithu
Prei Monti
Prei Prasat
Preah Vihear temple
Royal Palace of Angkor
Rules of Conduct

Sambor Prei Kuk
Schönlein Blog
Shopping
Siem Reap
Siem Reap River
Sihanoukville
South Gate of Angkor Thom
South Khleang
Spean Memay
Spean Thma
Srah Srang

Ta Keo
Ta Nei
Ta Prohm at Angkor
Ta Prohm  at Tonle Bati
Ta Prohm Kel
Ta Som
Tep Pranam
Terrace of the Elephants
Terrace of the Leper King
Thommanon
Tonle Bati
Tonle Sap
Toteung Thngai
Trapeang Phong
Trapeang Srangae
Victory Gate
Vihear Prampil Loveng
Visa

Wat Athvea
Wat Enkosei
West Baray
West Mebon
Wat Preah Ngok
West Prasat Top

All rights reserved.

Copyright © 2015 Hor Sopheak
Texts and Photos by Ando Sundermann and Hor Sopheak, unless otherwise stated
with special thanks to contributers Günter Schönlein and Jochen Fellmer
  • Home
    • Welcome
  • About
  • Cambodia
    • Geography
    • Khmer History
  • Travel Info
    • Visa and Customs
    • Climate
    • Food
    • Shopping
  • Destinations
    • Phnom Penh
    • Siem Reap
    • Battambang
    • Sihanoukville
    • Kep
    • Tonle Sap
  • Temples
    • Cambodia jungle temples
    • Preah Khan
    • Ta Som
    • Phnom Kulen
    • Bang Melea
    • Koh Ker
    • Banteay Chhmar
    • Preah Vihear
    • Bakan
    • Sambor Prei Kuk
    • Tonle Bati
    • Phnom Chisor
    • Phnom Da
  • Angkor
    • Angkor Wat
    • Angkor Thom >
      • Bayon
      • South Gate
      • North Gate
      • Victory Gate
      • East Gate
      • Prasat Chrung
      • Elephant Terrace
      • Leper King Terrace
      • Tep Pranam
      • Prasat Suor Prat
      • Preah Palilay
      • Vihear Prampil Loveng
      • Wat Preah Ngok
    • Yashodharapura >
      • Bakheng
      • Baksei Chamkrong
      • Bei Prasat
      • Baphuon
      • Phimeanakas
      • Royal Palace
      • Preah Pithu
      • North Khleang
      • South Khleang
      • West Prasat Top
      • Mangalartha
      • Ta Prohm Kel
      • Siem Reap River
      • Kapilapura
    • Small Circuit >
      • Thommanon
      • Chau Say Tevoda
      • Spean Thma
      • Chapel of the Hospital
      • Ta Keo
      • Ta Nei
      • Jayendranagari
      • Ta Prohm
      • Banteay Kdei
      • Kutishvara
    • Grand Circuit >
      • Prasat Tonle Snguot
      • Krol Romeas
      • Preah Khan in Angkor
      • Prasat Prei
      • Banteay Prei
      • Neak Pean
      • Krol Ko
      • Ta Sohm
      • East Mebon
      • Pre Rup
      • Leak Neang
      • Prasat Top
      • Srah Srang
      • Bat Chum
      • Prasat Kravan
    • Angkor East >
      • Prasat Tor
      • Banteay Samray
      • Phnom Bok
      • Chau Say Vibol
    • Angkor West >
      • West Baray
      • West Mebon
      • Ak Yum
      • Spean Memay
      • Phnom Rung
      • Kok Po
      • Neam Rup
      • Prasat Char
      • Prasat Sralao
      • Prasat Sampeau
      • Banteay Thom
      • Prei Prasat
    • Siem Reap area >
      • Wat An Kau Sai
      • Wat Athvea
      • Phnom Krom
    • Roluos Group >
      • Bakong
      • Preah Ko
      • Lolei
      • Prei Monti
      • Trapeang Phong
      • Toteung Thngai
      • Prasat O Ka-aek
      • Trapeang Srangae
    • North of Angkor >
      • Banteay Srei
      • Kbal Spean
  • Tours
  • Hotel
  • Blogs
    • Schönlein Blog
  • Contact
    • Deutsch