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Visit Angkor Complex

PHNOM PENH

ROYAL PALACE | PREAH KEO MORAKOT TEMPLE |
WAT PHNOM | NATIONAL MUSEUM | TOUL SLENG GENOCIDAL MUSEUM |
CENTRAL MARKET | WAT UNALOAM | RELAXING PLACES | SOUVENIR SHOPS | RUSSIAN MARKET |
CHAKTOMUK CONFERENCE HALL | PHNOM PENH MUNICIPALITY | INDEPENDENCE MONUMENT |
M. OF TELECOMMUNICATION | WAT LANGKA | NATIONAL LIBRARY | CHOEUNG EK

Phnom Penh means Hill (Phnom) of lady Penh, who founded it in 1372, the hill became the capital of the kingdom when the King Pohnea Yat settled 1431 after leaving the Angkor town. But the first establishment did not last long, the capital moved from one place to another. The Capital Phnom Penh was the sixth, after Nokor Phnom, Angkor, Longvek, Srey Sunthor and Oudong. At the end of 19th century the capital moved to Phnom Penh again and still remains the same up to the present time. Situated at the confluence of the three great rivers "Chatamuk or four faces" of the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac and covers an area of 41 square kilometers, Phnom Penh is a major political, economic, cultural, communication and tourism center for home and world service. Phnom Penh offers several cultural and hi9storical attractions. It is a charming mix of ancient monuments and modern landmarks which consists of five-star hotels and international standard entertainment centers.

ROYAL PALACE

The Royal Palace was built in 1866 under the reign of King Norodom and is located along the Sothearos Boulevard.

Inside the Royal Palace, there are:

• >  Tevia Vinichhay Temple: The place where the King is on throne.

• >  Khemarin Temple: The place where the King and Queen live.

• >  Somran Phirum Temple: The place where the King rides the Royal Elephant.

• >  Hor Baku or Hor Preah Khan: The place where keeping the throne objects and accessories.

• >  Chan Chhaya: The Royal dance hall for king and relatives and high-ranking officers. In front of the Royal dance hall, there is a platform for the King to hold the meeting with people and all levels of officials.

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PREAH KEO MORAKOT TEMPLE

Wat Preah Keo Morakot had imitated the Cambodian architecture and been built since 1892 to 1902. Then, it was removed and reconstructed in 1962. Previously, the temple was called Wat Ubor Soth Rotana Ream Temple because the King of Cambodia used this temple for holding ceremonies to follow the eight silos on every Buddhist holiday. In addition, the relatives of Kings and officers had held other ceremonies abiding by Buddhism at this temple. But in this temple didn't have monks, only his Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk stays there during the time of being a priest for a term (in the year of pig AD 2490 Correspondence the 31st July 1947). Therefore, it had a normal word called " Preah Vihear Preah Keo " is not " Wat " in the said word. When His Majesty celebrated any Buddhism celebration day, he would invite monks from another monastery in Phnom Penh City such as Wat Unaloam, Wat Botumvattey etc.

Wat Preah Keo Morakot is located in the South of Royal palace surrounding by high long-buildings. Before constructing the Phnom Penh Bali school on the 19th December 1930, along these long building where we used to use as Bali class for monks who stayed in Pagodas in Phnom Penh and some provinces.

On the wall of long buildings, there are ancient pictures, which described the Ramayana story for the beginning to end. These pictures were painted from 1903-1904 under the lead of Oknha Tepnimitt Theak with 40 Cambodian artists. The picture lasts from the southeastern long buildings to surround the whole long buildings in 642-meter length and 3-metre height. This means that we can see the pictures of the buildings by three times walking circle. The ancient pictures around the buildings are the Ramayana story showed the strange feature which is not etched or copied from Ramayanna of Indian because in the Ramayana we have seen some mysteries when we watch clearly, we will understand the story. Some parts of Ramayana story have been quoted to perform in Lo Kuon Khuol, Shadow Puppets or other figures and used as astrology for predicting the human destiny.

Nowadays, the pictures are old and gradually disappear because of weather and the human damages. In 1985, the Royal Government of Cambodia collaborated with the Government of Poland had conducted a project for protecting and repairing the pictures, but the project lasted only five years because of the budget constrain. Now the Royal Government of Cambodia is finding means to maintain and repair this cultural heritage again.

In front of the temple, there are two big stupas and a statue covered by roof:

• Wat Preah Keo Morakot had imitated the Cambodian architecture and been built since 1892 to 1902. Then, it was removed and reconstructed in 1962. Previously, the temple was called Wat Ubor Soth Rotana Ream Temple because the King of Cambodia used this temple for holding ceremonies to follow the eight silos on every Buddhist holiday. In addition, the relatives of Kings and officers had held other ceremonies abiding by Buddhism at this temple. But in this temple didn't have monks, only his Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk stays there during the time of being a priest for a term (in the year of pig AD 2490 Correspondence the 31st July 1947). Therefore, it had a normal word called " Preah Vihear Preah Keo " is not " Wat " in the said word. When His Majesty celebrated any Buddhism celebration day, he would invite monks from another monastery in Phnom Penh City such as Wat Unaloam, Wat Botumvattey etc.

  
  Wat Preah Keo Morakot is located in the South of Royal palace surrounding by high long-buildings. Before constructing the Phnom Penh Bali school on the 19th December 1930, along these long building where we used to use as Bali class for monks who stayed in Pagodas in Phnom Penh and some provinces.

  
  On the wall of long buildings, there are ancient pictures, which described the Ramayana story for the beginning to end. These pictures were painted from 1903-1904 under the lead of Oknha Tepnimitt Theak with 40 Cambodian artists. The picture lasts from the southeastern long buildings to surround the whole long buildings in 642-meter length and 3-metre height. This means that we can see the pictures of the buildings by three times walking circle. The ancient pictures around the buildings are the Ramayana story showed the strange feature which is not etched or copied from Ramayanna of Indian because in the Ramayana we have seen some mysteries when we watch clearly, we will understand the story. Some parts of Ramayana story have been quoted to perform in Lo Kuon Khuol, Shadow Puppets or other figures and used as astrology for predicting the human destiny.

  
  Nowadays, the pictures are old and gradually disappear because of weather and the human damages. In 1985, the Royal Government of Cambodia collaborated with the Government of Poland had conducted a project for protecting and repairing the pictures, but the project lasted only five years because of the budget constrain. Now the Royal Government of Cambodia is finding means to maintain and repair this cultural heritage again.

  In front of the temple, there are two big stupas and a statue covered by roof:
  

• The southern stupa is the stupa keeping cremated ash of Preah Bat Ang Duong and was constructed on Friday 11 Koet, Khe Pro Kun in the year of goat AD 2450 correspondence to 13 March 1908 (who is a grand grandfather of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk).
  

• The northern stupa is the stupa keeping cremated ash of Preah Bat Norodom and was constructed on Friday in the year of goat AD 2450 correspondence to 13 March 1908 (who is a grand-grand grandfather of His Majesty Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk).
  

• A statue on a white horse is the statue of Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom constructed in 1875, which is a keepsake from the King of Napoleon III of France and kept in front of the temple in 1892, but it had no roof. Until 1953 when Samdech, the president of state arranged the crusade to claim for independence from French colony, he prayed for success in front of this statue. After success in claiming for independence from the colony, he built the roof as the compensation to the sacred power of Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom there.

The temple made of wood and brick, built in the reign of Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom, and held the festival of Bonh Chos Sey Ma Chhlong on the 5 February 1903. Then the temple was ruined and required repairing in 1962 by the thought of Samdech Preah Moha Ksat Yani Kosomak Neary Rath, the queen under the highest leading of Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk. This old temple was removed and re-constructed from reinforced concrete with remaining the ancient architectural style; the floor made of silver and the column stuck by Thmor Keo imported from Italy.

The temple is called Preah Vihea Preah Keo Marakot, which take the name of a Buddhist statue inside made of precious gem considered as "Keo Morakot ". But the European called the temple “Silver Temple” because it is subject to the floor in the whole temple made of 5,329 pure silver tiles; each silver tile weighted 1.125 Kg.

In the temple, there are 1,650 artifacts made of gold, silver and bronze with diamonds (most of them are statues). All of these artifacts are offered by the King, the Royal Families, officers and people to Preah Keo Morakot in wishing for happiness, peace, prosperity in this world and next world, and for keeping as the cultural heritage for the next generation.

In front of the Bos Bok Thom, there is a big standing Buddhist statue made of gold weighted 90 kg (included support and above umbrella) with 2,086 multi-diamonds. The biggest diamond at the crown has a size of 25 Li and the diamond on Preah Sorong has a size of 20 Li. This Buddhist statue made in 1904 by Preah Bat Samdech Preah Sisowath who abided by the left word of Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom before he died. The left word said that ”after his cremation must get that gold casket to melt for making a Buddhist statue representing Preah Srey Araya Metrey”. After that, Preah Bat Samdech Preah Sisowath organized a construction of this Buddhist statue to dedicate the offer to Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom in achieving Preah Srey Araya Metrey in the year of Buddhist era in 5,000 and named this Buddhist statue “Preah Chin Rang Sey Reach Chik Norodom”.

At the Bos Bok, Preah Keo Morakot is the main object in calling this temple. In a small glass cabinet, there is the cremated ash of His Majesty brought from Sri Lanka by Samdech Preah Song Kariech Levy Em who stayed at Wat Lang Ka pagoda, Phnom Penh in 1956.

In the next cabinet, there is the gift offered by Samdech Preah Ksat Trey Yani Sisowath Kosomak Neary Rath, the queen in 1969. The gift is the golden Buddhist statue.

The dragon headed Buddhist statue represented the Buddha who stayed on Plur Sras Mochak Linti at that time. The objects contains in other cabinets are the remembrance and decoration stuff for various Royal ceremonial and religious celebrations.

At the southern part of the temples, there are:

• Keung Preah Bat is a place where kept the footprints of the four Buddhists, who have already achieved the enlightenment, namely: Kok San Thor, Nea Kak Mono, Kas Sabor and Sam Monak Kodom. Other Buddhists who have not yet achieved the enlightenment included Preah Srey Araya Metrey who has been believed that he survived the human being in the future.

• 
  Mountain of Kharn Mali Nea Tip Tit Key Las or Mun Dup is the invented mountain representing the mountain of Key Las where the Buddhist steps on the stone to make his footprint. At the top of the mountain, there are monuments containing Buddhist footprint, and 108 small statues describing the 108 Mong Kol of birth and death of the Buddhist before he achieved the enlightenment to become the Preah Sama Samput.

• 
  The tower of Kun Theak Bopha was build in 1960 for containing the cremated ash of Preah Ang Mochas Ksat Trey Norodom Kun Theak Bopha who is a daughter of Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk, she died of illness since she was four years old. This tower imitated the ancient temple abiding by the style of Banteay Srey.
  

• Monti Sar Thom or Thomak Sala is the place where for praying.

• Stupa of Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sora Mrith built in 1960, is the father of Preah Bat Samdech Preah Norodom Sihanouk.

• The West is the bell hall for signs to open and close the door of Preah Keo Morakot temple during the big ceremonies.

• The North is the Mun Dup for keeping Preah Tray Bey Dok books.

• Preah Tray Bey Dok or Pro Chum Ney Lo Ey Bey = the meeting of Preah Thom Vi Ney, the Buddhist rules sharing into three parts:

1. Vi Ney Bey Dok = (is the advice to notification and permission)

2. So Ta Nak Bey Dok = (is the advice to showing wrong and right, good and bad; but it is not allowed as Vi Ney Bey Dok).

3. Ak Phi Thomak Bey Dok = (is the explanation to mind, Chet Set, body and nirvana; It is not allowed either) Preah Tray Bey Dok has 110 parts divided into 84,000 paragraphs.

•   >   In the Mon Dup, there is also Kor Nak Ti (the cow) used as the transporting mean by Preah Eyso.

•   >  The cow was discovered at Koh Thom District, Kandal province in 1983 while it was buried in the ground. By estimation, the cow contains 80% of silver and 20% of bronze, iron and zinc.

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WAT PHNOM

In 1372, there was a mountain supervised by grandmother Penh before King Ponhea Yat. Until 15th century King Ponhea Yat built the capital in Phnom Penh.

In the area of Wat Phnom, there are a big stupa behind the temple used for keeping the cremated ash of the King, Ponhea Yat, the stupas for keeping cremated ash of the Royal families and remaining Buddhist statues of Angkorean era in the big stupa behind. Most local and international visitors like to visit Wat Phnom.

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NATIONAL MUSEUM

Was built from 1917-1918 and located in the North of the Royal Palace.

The National Museum contains a lot of precious ancient objects relating to Cambodian history. It attracts a lot of international visitors, which ranks after the Royal Palace.

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TOUL SLENG GENOCIDAL MUSEUM

In the former time, this museum was the Secondary School of Toul Sleng. In 1975 this school became the torturing place for thousands of Cambodian people (this place was named " S21 " during the Pol Pot regime) who were seriously tortured until died in different ways.

Nowadays the Toul Sleng museum remains a lot of evidences include bones and skeletones. In addition, there is another genocidal museum at Cheung Ek pagoda in Cheung Ek Commune, Dang Kor District.

CENTRAL MARKET

Was built in 1937. Nowadays all foreign visitors who arrived at Phnom Penh have never missed this place to look at the products, especially the silver and gold selling shops.

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WAT UNALOAM

Wat Unaloam is a monastery for tourists who visit and find out the religion in our country. In addition, the monastery has a stupa built after Angkor. In Phnom Penh, there are 86 priests, 1,633 monks, 859 novices, 2,520 monks, one chief of monks and seven Deputy chiefs of monks.

RELAXING PLACES

Besides the above main places in Phnom Penh, there are other places like the Park of Chatomuk Hall for performing the Cambodian dance, the Park of Independent Monument, the Park of Samdech Hun Sen and the Naga resort. In addition, there are a lot of Casinos and night Clubs in Phnom Penh.

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SOUVENIR SHOPS

The souvenir shops in Phnom Penh consist of:

•   >   Central Market

•   >  The surrounding of Fine-arts School

•   >  Toul Tumpung Market

•   >  Shops at the big hotels

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