Places to Visit in Cambodia
Although Cambodia’s premier highlight are the spectacular temples of Angkor, there is far more to the country. In Phnom Penh, the colonial capital, there are numerous pagodas and interesting museums to visit; on the coast are beautiful unspoilt beaches and inland there is impressive natural scenery.
Phnom Penh
Cambodia’s capital sits at the confluence of the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers. Considered the loveliest of the French-built cities of Indochina, it was founded as a small monastery in 1372 by a rich Khmer woman called Penh, after she found four Buddha statues in a tree trunk on the banks of the Mekong. Distinguished French colonial homes, tree-lined boulevards and charming cafes dot the waterfront.
Evidence of Cambodia’s darker, more recent past is memorialized in deeply moving sites such as the Toul Sleng Museum and the famous Killing Fields, which tell the story of the genocide under the Khmer Rouge. Possibly the best way to see the city is by cyclo tour to Wat Phnom, along Sisowath Quay and to other centrally located sites such as the Royal Palace.
Evidence of Cambodia’s darker, more recent past is memorialized in deeply moving sites such as the Toul Sleng Museum and the famous Killing Fields, which tell the story of the genocide under the Khmer Rouge. Possibly the best way to see the city is by cyclo tour to Wat Phnom, along Sisowath Quay and to other centrally located sites such as the Royal Palace.
Banlung
Rattanakiri province, which borders Laos and Vietnam, is renowned for the rich diversity of its biological features and its indigenous cultures. In the remote northeast of Cambodia, Rattanakiri is still one of the undiscovered regions in Indochina. Banlung is the provincial capital and a good base for exploring the sights.
Siem Reap
Only a few kilometres north of Siem Reap lies one of the world’s most impressive temple complexes, Angkor. What has become known as Angkor is in fact a large area near Siem Reap covering several square kilometres and containing many temples. The temple of Angkor Wat is only one of numerous temples within this area.Angkor literally means ‘city’ or ‘capital’ and ‘wat’ means ‘temple’.
Founded in 802 AD it was allegedly residence for more than a million people in the heyday of the Khmer Empire in the 12th and 13th centuries. Angkor Wat is the largest and most famous of these architectural wonders. It is estimated that the temples took 30 years to construct using 17,000 to 20,000 workers. The temple was first dedicated to Vishnu and after a long period of abandonment from 1432 it was later dedicated to Buddhism during the reign of King Ang Chan in the 15th century. Its beauty and state of preservation are unrivalled and its artistic distinctiveness is as fine as the Taj Mahal in India.
Founded in 802 AD it was allegedly residence for more than a million people in the heyday of the Khmer Empire in the 12th and 13th centuries. Angkor Wat is the largest and most famous of these architectural wonders. It is estimated that the temples took 30 years to construct using 17,000 to 20,000 workers. The temple was first dedicated to Vishnu and after a long period of abandonment from 1432 it was later dedicated to Buddhism during the reign of King Ang Chan in the 15th century. Its beauty and state of preservation are unrivalled and its artistic distinctiveness is as fine as the Taj Mahal in India.
Tonle Sap
The Tonle Sap Lake's unique ecology makes it one of Cambodia must-see destinations from an environmental point of view. Through the Tonle Sap River, it is connected to the Mekong at Phnom Penh. During the rainy season (May – October), the rising levels of the Mekong force the flow of the Tonle Sap River to reverse back into the lake, causing it to swell from approximately 3000 sq. km to over 7500 sq. km; during the dry season, the lake shrinks again to a tenth of its former size. In addition, the fishing villages clustered along its shores and in the middle of the lake house some of the most interesting subcultures to be found in Cambodia.
Sihanoukville
Located on the Gulf of Thailand, 232 km southwest of Phnom Penh, Kompong Som, also known as Sihanoukville, is Cambodia’s most popular seaside resort and the major coastal Cambodian port. The sandy beaches, laid-back atmosphere, range of recreational activities, and excellent seafood are all major tourist draws. In addition, it is a good base for visiting Ream National Park, encompassing 21,000 hectares of coastal area, including sandy beaches, mangrove forests, the Prek Tek Sap estuary, offshore coral reefs and two islands.
