Destination Cambodia

• Phnom Penh
• Siem Reap & Angkor
• Battambang
• Kep
• Kampot
• Sihanoukville
• Rattanakiri

Phnom Penh

"Phnom Penh is an attractive city of about 80,000 inhabitants, situated at the junction of two rivers and, like most of the towns on the Mekong, it possesses a broad boulevard on the river-front with an avenue of trees. Trees line many of the streets as in Saigon, an in the midst of the European quarter there are beautiful botanical gardens, containing aviaries and cages of wild animals. The gardens surround a small hill, called the Phnom - whence the town takes its name - which is crowned by a Buddhist monument with a conical spire. A steep flight of steps lead to its summit with twin images of Naga, the many headed serpent, carved in stone at the base of the balustrades."

Nowadays Phnom Penh is a vibrant and bustling capital city with around 2,000,000 residents with motorbikes and cars and a culture of sidewalk cafes established in recent years.

The city is conveniently located on the banks where three rivers - the Mekong, the Tonle Sap and the Bassac - converge, a location known to Cambodians as Chatomuk, or four faces.

The French influence can be felt today in the city, a legacy of a 90 year period that saw the construction of many lovely colonial era residences for French administrators. However, Phnom Penh’s era of modern development and planning took place after independence in 1953, with the addition of tree lined avenues, gardens with fountains and several distinctive monuments reflecting the city’s new found sense of freedom.

Phnom Penh-ites rise early. Be prepared to be awakened by the strains of Buddhist music playing in the street, motorbikes tooting their horns, and a rooster crowing. There is plenty to see, starting with a tour of the Silver Pagoda, the National Museum, Independence Monument, Wat Phnom and the market areas where hand woven silks, silver, gems and antiques will compete for your attention. The waterfront of the city has been rejuvenated in recent years and now countless al fresco restaurants and bars, with views stretching across the Mekong, have made this area one of the Indochina’s in vogue ‘places to be’.

Outside Phnom Penh are a choice of pleasant half day and full day trips to ancient hilltop temples with far reaching vistas and enchanting countryside waiting to be explored.

Wat Phnom

The Legend has it that, after a particularly high flood, a wealthy Khmer woman named Daun Penh found a tree on the banks of the Mekong with four statues of Buddha hidden inside. She built a temple in 1372 to house the sacred relics.

Independence Monument

Designed by Khmer architect Van Molyvann, Independence Monument commemorates the end of Cambodia’s rule by France in 1953. The naga - or snake - motif is one which can be seen in historic, cultural and modern-day business contexts, as a symbol of the country. The distinctive modern Cambodian architectural style of the monument can also be seen at Olympic Stadium and Chatomuk Hall, located near the Royal Palace along the Tonle Sap river.

Royal Palace

Built in 1866 by King Norodom, the Royal Palace is now home to His Majesty Sihamoni, King of Cambodia. Most of the buildings inside the palace walls are closed to the public except on special occasions.

Within the palace compound are the coronation hall; the entrance, which houses an open-air theater for the Royal Dance Troupe, and a balcony for royal appearances; an open-air pavilion often used for entertaining and viewing of the King’s movies; and the King’s private residence, which houses a collection of Cambodian artwork from artists around the world, and his office, where he actively pursues Royal duties. The architecturally incongruous Napoleon III pavilion - shipped and reassembled in Cambodia - was a gift of the French Empress Eugenie in the early 20th century. Outside the southeast wall of the palace is the house of the white elephant traditionally used for special regal occasions including royal births, deaths or weddings.

Silver Pagoda

Located within the Royal Palace compound, the Silver Pagoda is so named because of its floor, which is made up of 5,000 silver tiles. On display inside are hundreds of Royal gifts received by the Royal family over the years. Among the Treasures are a solid gold Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds and weighing 90 kilos and a small 17th century emerald and baccarat crystal Buddha.

The compound also houses Wat Phnom Mondap, containing Buddha’s footprint. The walls surrounding the compound - the oldest part of the palace - are covered with frescos depicting episodes from the Khmer version of Ramayana, the Reamker.

National Museum

Located just north of the Royal Palace, the National Museum has recently been restored and represents the fines of Phnom Penh’s architecture. On display inside are more than 5,000 works of art, ranging from the 6th to the 13th Century. Treasures include sculptures, 19th century dance costumes, royal barges and palanquins. Visitors can rest by the peaceful, palm-shaded central courtyard and lotus ponds and contemplate one of Asia’s richest cultures.

Markets

Phnom Penh has many markets, but the huge yellow-domed New Market or Psar Thmei, located near Wat Phnom, and the smaller Russian Market, or Psah Tuol Tom Pong, are the most popular among visitors because of their collections of silks, gems, silvercraft and antiques.

Oudong

Built on a hill 40 kilometres north of Phnom Penh - Oudong was the capital of Cambodia before Phnom Penh. While little remains of the canals, terraces, bridges and approximately 100 pagodas created by King Ang Duong, Oudong is still frequented by Khmers who go to pay homage to the remains of former kings. It is a pleasant half-day trip that takes you into the scenic countryside outside Phnom Penh.

Tonle Bati

Not far south of Phnom Penh is a 12th century temple, Ta Phrom, built by Jayavarman VII. Nearby is Tonle Bati, where there is a small lake with a beach and food stalls that is a popular picnic spot for Phnom Penh residents on the weekends.

Phnom Chisor

Further south on the main road in Phnom Chisor, a fine Angkorian-era temple on a hilltop with extensive views. It was built by Suryavarman I and the central sanctuary houses Neang Khmao, the Black Lady, a venerated Buddha about 300 years old.

French Colonial buildings, the confluence of three rivers and a magnificent Royal Palace create a charming city to welcome visitors to Cambodia. Identified by Madame Penh in the 1300’s as a place of religious significance, Phnom Penh has experienced its destiny fluctuate, although not quite as regularly as the ebb and flow of the Mekong River. Starting out as a riverside village, developing into the thriving educational centre of South East Asia in the 1960’s, emptied in the early 1970’s, Phnom Penh today provides an unparalleled glimpse of period architecture, warm people and a firm belief in the future.