Place of Interest in Cambodia

Phnom Penh - Capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia 

Phnom Penh:The Capital of Cambodia was founded in 1431 by King Pohnea Yat after the sack of Angkor. Phnom Penh is conveniently located at the junction of four rivers, the upper Mekong, lower Mekong, the Tonle Sap and the Bassac, a location known to Cambodia as Chaktomuuk or the four faces.With favor of geography, Phnom Penh has main attractive sites touristic:

- Wat Phnom Penh Located on a hill twenty seven meters high, The original pagoda was built in 1373 to house four Buddha statues discovered by a women named "Penh".Shrines and other buildings have been put up and restored several times. There is an altar for Yeay Penh ("grandmother Penh") between the stupa and the Vihear. People from Phnom Penh consider her as a powerful protective spirit of the town and they will offer for her and request her help for any major decisions. The large stupa contains the ashes of King "Ponhea Yat" (1405-1476) and his royal family. Inside the stupa, there is a Buddha statue from the Angkorean period. Wat Phnom is the heart of city and the only one hill in city with biggest clock in Cambodia.

 












 







 


- Cambodia's Royal Palace

Cambodia's Royal Palace was built in 1866 under French protectorate and King Norodom to serve as the residence of the King of Cambodia, King's family and foreign dignitaries, and as a symbol of Cambodia. It is also in use as a place for religious and royal ceremonies (such as coronations and royal weddings) as well as a meeting place for guests of the King. The Royal Palace compound consist of several building, structures and gardens. Except teh area of the actual Royal residence, The Khemarin Palace, most of Palace grounds and silver Pagoda are open to he public every day, 7:30 - 11:00 and 2:00 - 5:00, with admission: $3.00/person, $2/camera, $5/video camera.

Throne Hall


Throne Hall The Throne Hall, the Preah Timeang Tevea Vinicchay “Sacred Seat of Judgment”, originally built in wood under King Norodom in 1869-1870,the present building constructed in 1917.

Chanchhaya Pavilion

   
The current Pavilion, also known as the 'Moonlight Pavilion', is the second incarnation of the Chanchhaya Pavilion, constructed in 1913-14 under King Sisowath to replace the earlier wooden pavilion built under King Norodom

Napoleon III Pavilion


It was originally built for Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III, in 1869 for use in the inauguration of the Suez Canal. It is constructed entirely of iron. In 1876 Emperor Napoleon III made a gift of the building to King Norodom of Cambodia.

Khemarin Palace

Khemarin Palace The Royal residence. Closed to the public.

Hor Samran Phirun

Constructed in 1917. Currently housing a display of gifts from foreign heads of state.

Hor Samrith Phimean

Know as the "Bronze Palace", Constructed in 1917. Currently housing a display of royal regalia and costumes on the ground floor.

Phochani Pavilion

Built in 1912, the Pavilion is currently used for Royal receptions and meetings.

Damnak Chan

Original constructed in 1953 for the High Council of the Throne, as the Ministry of Culture in the 80s, housing the Supreme National Council of Cambodia from 1991-93, currently houses the administrative offices of the Royal Palace,Closed to the public.

Villa Kantha Bopha
Western-style villa named after King Sihanouk's late daughter Princess Kantha Bopha, built in 1956 as guest house for foreign guests. Closed to the public.

Silver Pagoda buildings

Wat Preah Keo Morokat

known as the "Silver Pagoda" the "Temple of the Emerald Buddha" and known as the 'Silver Pagoda' for the 5329 silver tiles that cover the floor. Each tile was handcrafted and weighs 1.125kg. The vihear serves less as a functioning temple than a repository for cultural and religious treasures, containing over 1650 precious objects. The primary Buddha, sitting on a gilded dais above all others in the temple, is the Emerald Buddha, reported by different sources to be made of emerald or baccarat crystal. In front of the Emerald Buddha stands Buddha Maitreya (Buddha of the Future,) a 90 kg golden standing Buddha encrusted with 2086 diamonds including a 25 caret diamond in the crown and a 20 caret diamond embedded in the chest. Other objects include a Buddha relic from Sri Lanka in a small gold and silver stupa, a collection of gifts from Queen Kossomak Nearyrith, and contributions and gifts from other nobles and Royals.The original pagoda, built in 1866 by King Norodom, was, for the most part, made of wood. In 1962, it was expanded by Sihanouk.

Ramayana Frescoes

The interior of the pagoda compound walls is covered with murals depicting stories from the Reamker, i.e. the Khmer version of the classic Indian epic, the Ramayana. Some sections of the murals are deteriorated and weather damaged. The murals were painted in 1903-1904 by a team of students working under the direction of artist Vichitre Chea and architect Oknha Tep Nimit Thneak. In the 30s the galleries served as ad hoc classrooms for Buddhist monks.

Dhammasala

Shrine containing Buddha footprints. Fortune tellers.

Keong Preah Bath

Shrine containing Buddha footprints. Fortune tellers.

Library

Small library next to the main vihear that houses sacred Buddhist texts (Buddha's Tripitaka, i.e. "Three Baskets") and also contains an image of a sacred bull named Nandin, and several Buddha statues. The Nandin statue is metal (primarily silver) and is said to be of ancient origin. The statue was found in Kandal province in 1983. Fortune tellers work inside the shrine. If you can find somebody to translate for you, you can have your future told for a small contribution.

Phnom Mondop

Phnom Mondop is a small artificial hill symbolizing Mount Kailassa, topped by a shrine containing a large Buddha footprint. The shrine is adorned with 108 Buddha images symbolizing the 108 past lives of Buddha. Fortune tellers work inside the shrine. If you can find somebody to translate for you, you can have your future told for a small contribution.

Statue of HM King Norodom

Equestrian statue of the King Norodom (1834-1904). Completed by French artist Eude in 1875 in Paris and placed on the pagoda grounds in 1892. The canopy was added by King Sihanouk in 1953 to honor King Norodom in light of Cambodia's new independence. The stupa north of the statue contains the ashes of King Norodom.

Stupa of HM King Ang Doung

Stupa containing the ashes of the King Ang Doung (1845-1860), founder of the current dynasty and the great-great-great grandfather to King Sihamoni. Constructed in 1908.

Stupa of HM King Norodom

Stupa containing the ashes of the King Norodom (1834-1904). Constructed in 1908..

Stupa of HM King Suramarit and HM Queen Kossomak

Stupa of the father and mother of former King Sihanouk (r: 1955-1960), grandfather and grandmother to King Sihamoni.

Stupa of Princess Kantha Bopha

The memorial sanctuary of the beloved daughter of the former King Sihanouk. Princess Kantha Bopha passed in 1952 at the age of four, succumbing to leukemia. The stupa was built in 1960.

Model of Angkor Wat

Model of Angkor Wat

Belfry

The bell is used to signal the opening and closing of the temple and for ceremonies.



- The National Museum

Designed by the French Georges Groslier and "Ecole des Arts Cambodgiens" and officially inaugurated in 1920, The National Museum of Phnom Penh has the responsibility to preserve and exhibit these treasures to the public. Its collections can be divided into four main categories: stone, metal, wood and ceramics. Despite damage, the works still possess important values relating to art, history and religion.The National Museum of Cambodia is located on Street 13 in central Phnom Penh, next to the Royal Palace. The visitor’s entrance to the compound and the admissions ticket booth are at the corner of Streets 13 and 178.

The National Museum is open to the public every day from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM with Admission: $3 for foreign visitors, 500 riels for Cambodians. Children and school groups are free.