PHNOM PENH
Phnom Penh is situated at the confluence
of the Tonle Sap and Bassac rivers with the
Mekong. It was founded as a small monastery
in 1372 by a rich Khmer woman called 'Penh',
after she had found four Buddha statues in a
tree trunk on the banks of the Mekong. She
set up the monastery on a hill near the bank
of the Mekong. The Cambodian word for hill
is Phnom. Therefore the name of the town
correctly translates as Hill of Penh.In 1434, after the Siamese conquest of
Angkor in 1431, the Khmer nobility unwilling
to submit to Siamese overlords fled from
Angkor and established Phnom Penh as the new
Khmer capital, just 64 years after the
Buddhist monastery had been founded on Penh
Hill. However, the Khmer never succeeded in
setting up a new kingdom to come close to
the glamour of Angkor.
In fact, for long periods of time the
Khmer kingdom centered in Phnom Penh wasn't
a sovereign country but alternatively a
satellite state of, or directly ruled by,
the Vietnamese or the Thais. For more than
400 years - until the French made Cambodia
their protectorate - the art of politics in
Phnom Penh was just an exercise of balancing
between the two powerful neighbors.
On April 17, 1864, the Cambodian king
Norodom accepted for his country the status
of a French protectorate. King Norodom
expected the French to protect Cambodia from
the neighboring countries Siam (Thailand)
and Vietnam. However, the French protectors
did not prevent politically strong Siam from
temporarily annexing western parts of the
country, including the town of Battambang.
Nevertheless, by recognizing French rule,
King Norodom pre-empted moves of Siam and
Vietnam to entirely divide his country
between them. In past centuries the loss of
territory to Vietnam had been more
significant.
During almost 90 years of colonial rule
the French reshaped and extended Phnom Penh
according to their architectural taste. They
built broad boulevards and the city received
a touch of Mediterranean atmosphere.
SIEM REAP - ANGKOR
Siem Reap is a Cambodian province where
Angkor Wat temple, one of the seven wonders
of the world, is rightly situated!
Nestled between rice paddies and
stretched along the Siem Reap River lies the
provincial capital of Siem Reap - old
colonial town, developing tourist area and
most importantly, gateway to the temples of
Angkor. If it were not for Angkorian-era
temples north of town, Siem Reap would be
unknown to most of the world.
Siem Reap is where you will stay during
your visit to Angkor. The area has been
receiving visitors to the temples for more
than 100 years but has managed to maintain a
certain quaintness. The town is really a
cluster of villages with a French colonial
center. There is a wide range but not an
over-abundance of hotels, restaurants, pubs
and shops. There is now a selection of
European, Thai, pizza, budget, Cambodian and
Chinese restaurants as well as a few
nightspots from which to choose.
NORTHEST
- KRATIE
Kratie is a small town on the banks of
the mighty Mekong River with some of the
best sunsets in Cambodia. The river north of
here is home to the unique Ayerwaddy
Dolphin, one of the rarest creatures in the
region and viewing is possible throughout
the year. Nearby Phnom Sombok offers some
striking views across the Mekong River.
- MONDULKIRI
Mondulkiri feels almost like another
Cambodia, isolated and windswept, remote and
adventurous. Nestled against the border with
Vietnam, Mondulkiri is located at a high
elevation, supporting unique flora and fauna
among its hills. There are several minority
groups (chunchiets) in the province
including the Pnong who make up half the
population. There are many rare animals
found in the province, including elephants,
tigers, bears and leopards. Sen Monorom is
the provincial capital and nearby are a
number of chunchiet villages and picturesque
waterfalls. We are able to arrange elephant
treks through several minority villages and
this can be a highlight of a visit to the
north-east. Bou Sraa Waterfall is most
impressive in Cambodia.
- RATANAKIRI
In the far north east of Cambodia is the
ruggedly beautiful Ratanakiri province, home
to Cambodia’s ethnic minorities and much of
its endangered wildlife. The provincial
capital of Ban Lung is a good base for
exploring this wild province. Serenely
beautiful and surrounded by jungle, Yeak Lom
is a freshwater lake within a volcanic
crater and undoubtedly Cambodia’s finest
natural swimming pool. Elsewhere in the
province are several large waterfalls, many
gem mines and the opportunity for jungle
boat trips. The province also supports
several minority groups including Kreung and
Tompuon.
- STUNG TRENG
One of Cambodia’s outPOST towns, just
50km south of the Lao border, it is becoming
increasingly popular with adventure tourists
making overland journeys between Cambodia
and Laos. Situated on the banks of the San
and Mekong rivers, it offers a nice slice of
real Cambodia.
SOUTH COAST
- SIHANOUKVILLE
Sihanoukville, also locally known as Kompong Som, is Cambodia’s leading beach
resort. There are empty white-sand beaches
around the headland, unspoilt islands off
the coast and the popular Kbal Chhay
waterfall near town. As well as relax-ng on
the beach, boat trips to Koh Rong and
snorkeling and diving are popular
activities.
- REAM NATIONAL PARK
Ream National Park, just 15km from
Sihanoukville, is a coastal park occupying
21,000 hectares, including two islands, Koh
Thmei and Koh Ses. Sights include lowland
and dwarf evergreen forest, long stretches
of white-sand beach, submerged coral and
seagrass. Mangrove forest within the park
supports a rich diversity of flora and
fauna.
- KIRIROM NATIONAL PARK
Kirirom is a beautiful, mountainous area
of pine forests and waterfalls. It is the
most accessible of Cambodia’s national
parks, about 140km south of Phnom Penh, and
sees many day-trippers from the capital.
KAMPOT is a charming riverside town, rich
in French architecture and a popular place
for river trips. It is a good base to
explore Bokor Hill Station and atmospheric
colonial seaside town of Kep-sur-Mer.
- Bokor Hill Station
BOKOR is a one of the most wonderful
places in Cambodia, a 1000m-high plateau of
steaming jungle, shy wildlife and abandoned
buildings. Built by the French as a hill
station in the 1920s, it was redev-eloped by
Sihanouk in 1959 as a casino resort before
being abandoned to the elements in 1970.
Offer limits until recent years, the empty
buildings and majestic views give it a
haunting, romantic quality. Nearby Popokvil
Falls are impressive in the wet season.
Visitors can stay in the very basic ranger
station at Bokor or in a comfortable hotel
in Kampot.
- KEP
Kep was Cambodia’s first seaside resort,
founded by the French in 1908. Today it has
an abandoned feel, but is rich in atmosphere
and draws crowds of Khmers at the weekend.
Nearby islands such as Koh Tonsay are
popular for day trips and local crab is a
popular lunchtime treat.
- KOH KONG
Koh Kong is becoming an increasingly
popular gateway to Cambodia, with the
opening of a new bridge linking it to
Thailand and a new road to Phnom Penh. There
are two major waterfalls north of the town
and it makes a convenient stop traveling
between Bangkok and Sihanoukville or Phnom
Penh and Koh Chang.
OTHER PLACES
- BATTAMBANG
Battambang is one of Cambodia’s largest
town, nestled on the banks of the Sangker
River. As well as boasting graceful
architecture, the town is a popular place to
visit by speedboat from Siem Reap across the
lake. Nearby attractions include the hilltop
Angkorian temple of Wat Banan, the sacred
mountain of Phnom Sampeau and the riverside
temple of Wat Ek Phnom.
- KOMPONG CHAM
Kompong Cham is one of Cambodia’s largest
towns, located on the banks of the mighty
Mekong River. It is a good overnight stop
for tours up the Mekong to the north-east or
overland on to Laos. Interesting temples
such as Wat Nokor (13th century) and Wat
Preah Nokor can be found here, along with a
rubber plantation at Chhup that was formerly
operated by the French tire maker Michelin.
- SAMBOR PREI KUK & KOMPONG THOM
Also known as Isanapura, Sambor Prei Kuk
served as the capital of Chenla during the
7th Century reign of Isanavarman. About 35km
north of Kompong Thom, it is believed by
many to be the most impressive group of pre-Angkorian
monuments anywhere in Cambodia. The site
consists of three main groups of monuments,
mostly built of brick. Much of the origins
of Angkor era architecture can be seen in
these temples. . It is the base for
excursions to the important archaeological
site of Sambor Prei Kuk, the ancient capital
of Chenla. Just 35 km away from the city,
this site can only be reached by traveling
down an unpaved road. Approximately 100
temples from the pre-Angkorian period (7th
century) can be found here surrounded by
lush forest.
- ANGKOR BOREI, PHNOM DA & TAKEO
The region of Angkor Borei is one of the
main sites of pre-Angkorian Cambodia.
Several temples were built in brick by King
Rudravarman of Funan in the 6th Century in
an area about 20km east of Takeo town.
Vishnu was his patron deity and many Hindu
statues from this site have survived the
centuries, the best of which can be viewed
in the National Museum in Phnom Penh.
One-day excursion from Phnom Penh gives the
travelers an opportunity to visit some of
Cambodia's major archeological sites: Angkor
Borei, the capital of the pre-Angkorian
empire of Funan and Phnom Da Temple (6th
century), Ta Phrom Temple (12th century)
near Tonle Bati Lake .
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