Phnom Penh

An admirable small historic city Phnom Penh, capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia founded since 1434, is a small city of around 1 million inhabitants, and also administrative and commercial center of the country. It is a vibrant bustling city nestling majestically on the banks of the confluence of the two mighty rivers of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap.

These rivers then split again as the Mekong and the Tonle Bassac at a place known to the Khmers as Chaktomuk, meaning four faces. Phnorn Penh is a veritable oasis compared to the modernity of other Asian capitals. With wide tree-lined boulevards and low-rise buildings Phnom Penh still harks back to the colonial days of this former French playground and the many older French colonial buildings, much in evidence, add to the ambiance. The area surrounding the Royal Palace has magnificent Khmer towers and remains particularly delightful. There are many open spaces and parks in the centre which the locals use for recreation and relaxation. Pedalled rickshaws, called cyclos, still ply the streets as in colonial days and provide an excellent opportunity for sightseeing and people watching as well as the taxi service.

Wat Phnom (Hill Temple) Located on a man-made hill twenty seven metres high in the middle of Phnom Penh, Wat Phnom is a revered place of worship for all Khmers and is the namesake of the capital.

The original pagoda was built in 1373 to house four Buddha statues said to have been deposited by the waters of the Mekong. Behind the pagoda, there is a big stupa where is put the ashes of King Ponhea Yat, the first founder of the capital Phnom Penh. The temple is the focal point for many Buddhist ceremonies especially Pchum Ben and his highly revered by Phnom Penh residents. Wat Phnom has a unique atmosphere and is surrounded by various fortune tellers, mystics, faith healers, and elephant rides around the site are available. Entrance costs US$1

The Royal Palace is situed just opposite the Four Branches of the Mekong river; it was originally built in 1866, and reconstructed later in 1913, with numerous buildings of remarkable khmer architecture.

Unfortunately the royal residence, set back from the riverfront, is closed to visitors but is still visible from the outside and well worth seeing, located as it is between the Silver Pagoda and National Museum.

The National Museum, a great red and elegant building North of the Royal Palace, constructed in 1917, is the treasure of khmer archeology arts. Designed by George Groslier and the Ecole des Arts Cambodgiens, it was built in 1917 in traditional Khmer style and inaugurated by King Sisowat. The National Museum houses the world's foremost collection of ancient Khmer archeological, religious, and artistic artifacts from the 4th to the 13th centuries. There are over 5000 pieces and is the repository of the Kingdom's cultural wealth. In addition, the roof space is home to the largest bat colony in the world living in an artificial structure. Every evening these bats flock out of the roof and swarm around in the sky before searching for food. Open daily from 8 am to 11 am and 2:30 pm to 5 pm. Entrance fee US$2 per person. Photography is forbidden inside.

The Silver Pagoda, or the temple of the emerald Buddha, formerly a wooden building, was rebuilt in 1962 in concrete and marble. The pagoda is floored with over 5,329 silver tiles each weighing 1 kilo.

It is famous for its 90kg solid gold Buddha made in 1907 and an emerald Buddha said to be made of baccarat crystal. Sharing the pagoda are many other interesting artifacts and jewels and was one of the few temples to remain intact during the Khrner Rouge regime. Open daily from 8am to ll am and 2:30 pm to 5 pm. Entrance fee US$3 per person. Camera fee US$2. Video fee US$5. Photography is allowed in the outside exhibition areas only. Please remember that exposed knees and shoulders are considered disrespectful.

Toul Sleng Museum, Formally Toul Svay Prey School, Known as the Museum of Genocidal Crimes it was used by the Khmer Rouge as a detention and torture centre in the late 1970s. Today the building houses exhibits paintings and photographs of many of the victims. Visitors can see the crude cells built in the classrooms and the torture devices used to extract "confessions" in Stalinesque purges of the regime. Open daily from 8 am to 11 am and 2:30 pm to 5 pm. Entrance fee US$2 per person.