Wat Phnom.

Wat Phnom located a short distance from the Royal Palace, the heart of the capital Wat Phnom is popular with Cambodians and tourist alike. It is the center of Phnom Penh that gives the city its name. At 27 meters above sea level, it is the highest point in the area, and, as a town gradually grew up around it, the settlement became known as Phnom Penh, the hill of Penh. It is zero point of the city.

Legend has it that a wealthy widow named Yeay Penh was walking by the Mekong River one day when she spied a koki tree log floating near the bank. She found some locals to help her pull it to shore, and inside she found four statues of the Buddha. In AD 1372, she built a hill, or Phnom, and placed a shrine on top to house the precious artifacts. In AD 1434, King Ponhea Yat came and constructed a city and gave the name Phnom Penh.

During the Khmer New Year, Wat Phnom becomes the center of festivities. No one visiting at that vibrant time of year can escape the good-natured throwing of powder and water, all of it accompanied by shrikes of laughter, that mark new year's celebration.

Kep City.

Kep is a seaside tourist city located 173 kilometers southwest of Phnom Penh. Visitors from Phnom Penh take National Road 3 via Kampot province or National Road 2 via Takeo province. In addition, the train from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville stops at Damnak Chang Eur Station, about 7 kilometers from the city. Foreigners coming from Vietnam can enter Cambodia via the Ha Teang Prek Chak border checkpoint, about 40 kilometers from Kep, or they can travel by boat from Vietnam or Sihanoukville to the Kep City Port.

Kep is a small city. The beach, which is suitable for swimming, is only 1,000 meter long, and the sand is not white as in Sihanoukville. However, Kep is a big seafood market.

Prek Ampil

Prek Ampil is located on the coast in Koh Toch Commune, Kampot district, about 18 kilometers west of the provincial town. Prek Ampil features a white sand beach with thousands of mangrove and coconut trees growing nearby, making the site ideal for visitors looking for a pleasant place to relax. In addition, there is an array of fresh seafood such as crab, cuttlefish, lobster and snails, as well abundant coconut juice. The waters off of Prek Ampil are rich in corals, a natural attraction that could attract tourists who enjoy snorkeling or scuba diving.

With the exception of Teuk Chhu, none of the sites listed above have been developed for tourism, although efforts have been made to stop further destruction at the sites. Today, locals and some foreigners visit the sites to do research.

Phnom Kampong Trach

Phnom Kampong Trach is located South Damnak Kantuot commune, Kampong Trach district, about 38 kilometers east of Kampot provincial town. It is a rocky mountain with few plants. The site includes a cave at the foot of the mountain, as well a number of small mountain wells that local people of Cambodian, Chinese and Vietnamese descent use for worship.

One of mountain wells is 30 meters in diameter, and its soil is seven different color. Several smaller wells have artistic stones that look like animals and other objects. From this large well, there is a cave way to Viel Sre Muoy Roy and Thma Dos wells, which were used by filmmakers in the 1970s.

Teuk Chhu.

Teuk Chhu is located in Snomprampi village, Makprang commune, Kampot district, about 8 kilometers north of Kampot provincial town. Its main attraction is a stream that flows from Phnom-Damrei via Phnom kamchay. The cool, clear water flows over large rocks year round. This is a good place for swimming or bathing.

There are many kinds of delicious fruit available, including durian, mangosteen, rambutan, mak prang, pineapple, grapefruit, custard apple and coconut. Only the durian, however, is available year round. Not far from Teuk Chhu is a zoo and plantation organized by His Excellency Nhim Vanda. The zoo raises animals, while the plantation grows a variety of fruit trees, including durain, rambutan and other fruits.

Phnom Bokor.

Phnom Bokor is about 12 kilometers west of kampot provincial town. The mountain was first discovered by a group of foreigners in 1917 and later organized by a Frenchman named Roulouse on April 13, 1922, during the reign of King Sisowath. During colonial times, Phnom Bokor was a place of leisure for the French colonists looking for an alternative to the coastal plain.

The mountain is 1,075 meters high and the temperature at the top is often quite cool. Because the road is poor, the 30 kiloometer trip from the base to the top of the mountain can take up to two hours and sometimes longer, depending on the mode of transportation. Those who make the trip, however, will find a lush forest, large rocks shaped like animals and sailing junks, as well as a spectacular panoramic view of the Kampot countryside, of Sihanoukville and of the bright, blue sea.

During then-prince Norodom Sihanouk's Sangkum Reastrniyum regime, many public buildings were built here, and Phnom Bokor became a small town, Borei Bokor. Today, most of those buildings are dilapidated and no longer in use. The mountain also features a three-stage waterfall and a popk vil, which are about 7 kilometers from Borei Bokor.

Phnom Kulen.

Phnom Kulen is Svay Leu and Varin districts, about 60 kilometers from Siem Reap provincial town and 25 kilometers from Banteay Srei. Phnom Kulen, originally called Mount Mahendraparvata, is the holy mountain where, when king Jayavarman II (AD 802-850) proclaimed independence from Java in 802, the Angkorian Empire was born.

This mountain plateau served as the capital of the first Khmer Empire for more than half a century before it relocated south to Hariharalaya, known today as Roluos. As many as 20 minor temples are found around the plateau, including Rorng Chen temple, the first pyramid built by an Angkorian King, but many of them are difficult to reach. Numerous important sites lie scattered across the mountaintop, which is accessible by foot or by car. 

Srah Srang.

Srah Srang is located face to face with Banteay Kdey temple. It, too, was built in late 12th century by King Jayavarman VII. It is a large lake which is 700 by 300 meters with an elegant lading terrace of superb proportion and scale, It is pleasant spot to sit and look out over the surrounding plain. Srah- Srang always has water and is surrounded by greenery. It is built of late rite with sandstone moldings.

The platform is of cruciform shape with naga balustrades flanked by two lions. At the front there is an enormous garuda riding a three-headed naga. At the back this is a mythical creature comprising a three-headed naga, the lower portion of a garuda and a stylized tail decorated with small naga heads. The body of the naga rests on a dais supported by mythical monsters.

Koh Ker Temple.

The temple complex at Koh  ker  represents the remnants of the capital of the Khmer Empire from the time the Khmer capital was first moved to the Angkor area in the late 9th century. It remained there for almost 500 years, with a brief interruption only a few decades later. In 928 A.D., King Jayavarman IV, possibly a usurper to the throne, created this impressive royal city of Brahmanic monuments and temples only 100km away.

The premier ruin of the complex is Prasat Thom, an imposing 7-tiered pyramid and temple complex.There  are  several  nicely preserved ruins with small temple  complexes.  Lingas are still in place in some monuments such as Prasat Balang and Prasat Thneng.

A trip to Koh Ker takes the better part of a day out of Siem Reap  and  is usually combined with a visit to Boeng Mealea.

Banteay Kdei Temple.

Built  in  the  late 12th to early 13th centuries  during the reign of Jayavarman VII, Banteay Kdei is known as a Buddhist temple constructed in the Bayon style. Banteay Kdei has been occupied by monks at various intervals over the centuries, but the inscription stone has never been discovered so it is mystery; unknown to whom the temple is dedicated.

Its structures are contained within two successive enclosure walls, and consist of two concentric galleries  from which emerge towers, preceded to the east  by a cloister. Like all the other ruins in Angkor, the  carvings  captivate one’s interest.

Preah Khan Temple.

Preah   Khan  was  built  on  the  site  of Jayavarman VII’s victory over the invading Chams in 1191.

In its heydays, this was the centre of a substantial organisation with almost100,000 officials and servants. This  temple is flat in design, with a basic plan of successive  rectangular galleries around  a Buddhist sanctuary complicated by Hindu satellite temples and numerous later additions.With numerous trees and other vegetation growing among the ruins, Preah Khan has been left largely unrestored.

Preah  Khan,  for the beguiler, the romancer and the artist, is an entrancing mastery  deep in the jungle, soft and alluring in the twilight made by heavy verdure.

Banteay Srei Temple.

Consecrated in 967 A.D, Banteay Srei was speculated to have been known earlier as Banteay Serai, which literally means the Citadel of Victory, This was the only  major temple at Angkor  not built  by a monarch;  its construction is credited to a courtier named Yajnavaraha, who was a scholar and philanthropist and a counselor to king Rajendravarman. He was known to have helped those who suffered from illness, injustice or poverty.

Banteay  Srei  is built primarily in red sandstone, a medium that lends itself tothe elaborate decorative wall carvings which are still observable in fine details today. Measured by the standards of Angkorian construction, the buildings themselves are miniature in scale. It has been widely praised as a “precious gem”, or the “jewel of Khmer art”. Banteay Srei or Citadel of Women is probably related  to the intricacy of the bas relief carvings of devatas  found on the walls and the tiny dimensions of  the buildings themselves.

Ta Prohm.

Ta  Prohm,  a  Bayon style temple, is believed to be built in the late 12th andearly 13th centuries. It was founded by King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist   monastery   and   university.   Unlike   most  Angkorian  temples, Ta  Prohm  encroached  by  trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle hasbecome one of Angkor’s most popular temples with visitors.

Rajavihara (”royal temple”), as it was originally known, was one of the first temples  founded  pursuant to a massive program of construction and public works  after  the King’s ascension to the throne in 1811 A.D.. It was built in honor of his family. The temple’s main image, representing Prajnaparamita, the  personification  of  wisdom,  was  modeled  on  the  king’s mother.
The northern and southern satellite temples in the third enclosure were dedicated to  the  king’s  guru  and  his  elder brother respectively. As such, Ta Prohm formed  a  complementary pair with the temple of Preah Khan, dedicated in 1191 A.D.,  the main image representing Avelokitesvara, the Bodhisattva of compassion modeled on the king’s father.

The  site  was  home  to  more than 12,500 people (including 18 high priests and  615  dancers),  with  an  additional  80,000  people  in  the  surrounding villages working to provide services and supplies.

Bayon Temple.

The Bayon Temple was splendidly built in the center of the Capital AngkorThom by King Jayavarman VII between the late 12th century and the early 13th century. It was the last state temple

with its Mahayana Buddhist Shrinein  the  Angkorian  era.  Following  the death of King Jayavarman II, it was modified   and   augmented  by  Hindu  and  Theravada  Buddhist  kings  in accordance with their religious preferences.

The  Bayon’s  most  distinctive  feature  is  the  multitude  of  serene  and massive stone faces on the many towers that jut out from the upper terrace and cluster around its central peak. The similarity of the 216 gigantic faces to other statues of Jayavarman VII has led many scholars to the hypothesis
that  the  faces  are  representations of the king himself. Others believe that the faces belong to Avalokitesvara, the bodhisattva of compassion.

The  temple  is  also  popular  for two impressive sets of bas-reliefs, which present an unusual combination of mythological, historical, and mundane scenes. This is one of the many ‘must visit’ temples.

Angkor Thom.

Angkor  Thom  was  the last  and most enduring capital city of the Khmer empire. Established  in  the late  twelfth  century by king Jayavarman VII, Angkor  Thom  covers an  area  of 9 km,  within which are located severalmonuments  from  earlier  eras as well as those  established by Jayavarman and his
successors.

The  fortified  city  of  Angkor  Thom was built by Angkor’s greatest King, Jayavarman  VII  (ruled-1181-1219). Centered on Baphuon, Angkor Thomis enclosed by a square wall 8m high and 12km in length  and encircled by moat  100m  wide.  The  city  has  five  monumental  gates,  one each in the
north, west and south walls and two in the east wall.

In  front  of  each  gate  stands giant  statues  of 54 gods (to the left of the causeway)  and 54 demons
(to  the  right  of  the  causeway),  a  motif takenfrom the story of the Churning of the Ocean of Milk
illustrated in the famous bas-relief at Angkor Wat. In the center of the walled enclosure are the city’s
most  important  monuments,  including the Bayon, the Baphuon, the Royal Enclosure, Phimeanakas and the Terrace of Elephants.

Angkor Wat.

Angkor wat which literally means ‘City Temple’ is a hindu temple complex built to replicate the heavens on earth. Constructed for king Suryavarman II in the early 12th century, it is the best-preserved temple and is the only one to  have  remained  a  significant  religious  centre since its foundation-first Hindu,  dedicated  to  Vishnu,  then Buddhist. The temple is the epitome of the  high classical  style  of  Khmer architecture. This magnificent temple combines two  basic plans  of Khmer  temple  architecture;  the  temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early South Indian Hindu architecture.  Constructed  within  a  moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 miles) long with three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next, it  is  designed  to  represent  Mount Meru,  home  of  the  devas  in  Hindu mythology.

At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is  oriented to the west and this has scholars  divided  as  to  its  significance.  The  temple  is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture. The extensive bas-reliefs and the numerous guardian spirits adorning its walls serve as evidence of the strong Khmer religious beliefs.

Siem Reap.

Siem Reap is home to the world famous heritage of the Angkor temples including  the  magnificent Angkor Wat.It is a vibrant city with manymodern hotels and old colonial buildings boasting awesome architecture. Much  of the town’s image, culture and traditions are conserved despite

the influx of tourists from all over the world.

There are restaurants of every culture and bars and cafes of nearly every fashion and size all about town. The Phsar Leu area is where one can find  great  bargains in jewellery and handicraft from precious stones to wonderful woodcarvings. There are also many shops ofering traditional massage and  reflexology  to  help  relieve those tired feet after a day’s tour of the temples.

Siem Reap Province is basically the cradle of Angkorean civilization and it  is the province that offers

plenty  of  opportunities to tourists enthralled by the Khmer culture.

The  ruins  of  Angkor,  located  amid  forests  and farmland, are now a UNESCO  World  Heritage Site.  There are over one thousand temples ranging   in   scale  from  nondescript  piles  of   brick rubble  scattered through  rice  fields  to the magnificent Angkor Wat which is said to be the  world’s largest  single  religious  monument. There  are  dozens of temple ruins in the Siem Reap area. Listed on this map are just a few of the  ‘must sees’.  However,  your  temple  itinerary  depends largely on 

how much time you have and of course your level of interest.  

Preah Sihanouk Ream National Park.

Preah Sihanouk Ream National Park is located between Koh Thmei and Sihanoukville, about 18 kilometers from downtown Sihanoukville. The park, which has been open since 1993, covers 21,000 hectares including 15,000 hectares of terrestrial and 6000 hectares of marine habitats.

The National Park features secluded beaches, mangroves forests, tropical jungles, 155 different species of birds, monkeys and during the months of December, January and February the infamous white fresh water dolphin. It also offers a good transportation service to some island such as Koh Ta Keav and Koh Rusei. Those tourists who do visit the islands should travel in groups and bring their own food.

Kbal Chhay Waterfall.

Kbal Chhay waterfall is located in Khan Prey Nup, about 16 kilometers north of downtown Sihanoukville, To reach the site from Sihanoukville, take National Road 4 toward Phnom Penh. About 7 kilometers outside of town, there is a sign announcing the site. Turn left and go 9 kilometers along a trail. The water at Kbal Chhay comes from many sources along the mountain range, although only three of these sources are visible. The waterfall, which is 14 meters high, is at the point where those three sources join.

Kbal Chhay was discovered in 1960. Three years later, it was developed into a reservoir to supply clean water to the city of Sihanoukville. The reservoir construction, however, was interrupted due to civil war, and the site became a hide-out for the Khmer Rouge. In 1997, Kbal Chhay was marked for development, and a year later Kok An Company was awarded a contract to construct a road and develp the site for tourism.

Phnom Leu.

Phnom Leu is a nature and cultural site. There is a pagoda on the mountaintop, which offers visitors a panoramic view of the beaches and Sihanoukville international port. Most visitors are local people who visit the site during natioal festivals.

Koh Pors.

Koh Pors is an island about 1 kilometer from loum Lomhe Kay beach, off the coast of Sihanoukville, The beach is flat and very quiet. It attracts few visitors, because it is undeveloped. Those tourists who do visit the island travel in groups and bring their own food.

Deum Chhrey Beach.

Deum Chhrey Beach is located in front of City Hall. Few tourists swim here because there is a big restaurant nearby. It is popular with tourists who like t walk along the beach, however, because there is a picturesque park filled with statues, making site popular with photographers.

Prampi Choan Beach.

The beach is short and narrow, and the waves are bigger than at other beaches, making it popular with locals, who favor it most after Sokha Beach.

Lomhe Kay or Victory Beach.

The beach is located in front of Koh Pors. It offers a number of services, including comfortable restrooms, fresh water and good transportation service to Koh Pors. Thus, many local and international visitors go to this beach. There are many well-organized kiosks along the beach; the waves are not big, and the environment is clean.

Sokha or Serendipity Beach

Sokha Beach adjoins O'Cheuteal Beach. It is also long, though the water is deeper here. The beach was once more crowded than O'Cheuteal Beach, because Cambodians prefer it to the other beaches. However, Oknha Sok Kung's Sokha Hotel Company recently look over operations at the beach. The company is building up the area in hopes of attracting more tourists to Sihanoukville.

O'Cheuteal Beach.

O'Cheuteal Beach is located in Sangkat No 3. Large and log with white sand and shallow water, it is the most popular beach in Sihanoukville, attracting many foreigners. There are a number of food stalls along the beach, in addition to fruit and seafood vendors.