CAMBODIA HIGHLIGHTS
Phnompenh
The country's capital Phnom Penh is a vibrant, bustling city nestled majestically on the banks where three mighty rivers, the Mekong , the Tonle Sap and the Bassac, converge and the split apart again.The city has some spectacular Khmer architecture with the highlight being the Royal complex overlooking the Tonle Sapand Bassac rivers. In addition, the city bears the strong influence of it's days under French colonial rule with many classical French villas, and wide tree lined boulevards.
Perhaps the greatest joy of Phnom Penh is the happiness and optimism exuded by it's young population, in these, the first year of peace many have ever known.
Royal Palace
Build in 1866 by King Norodom, the Royal Palace , a stone's throw away from the Mekong River , faces east. It is the most conspicuous feature in the Capital city and also one of impressive colorful Khmer-style buildings.
National Museum
Itself, one of the most striking Khmer buildings in Phnom Penh, the National Museum has the worlds best collection of Khmer archeological, religious and artistic artifacts.
Royal Palace
Built in 1866 by King Norodom it is painted the traditional royal yellow color and covers a large land mass close to the river and houses numerous courts, a theater, accommodation for the royal dance troupe and elephants
Silver Pagoda
Inside the grounds of the Royal Palace , the Silver Pagoda gets it's name from the 5000 tiles of pure silver which decorate the floor. In addition the Buddha of the Pagoda is made from solid gold, and decorated with over 9000 diamonds.
Wat Phnom
Set on a tree covered knoll, Wat Phnom is where the city derives it's name. According to legend the Wat was built in 1373 to house 4 Buddha statues which were deposited by the waters of the Mekong River .
Wat Ounalom
The headquarters of the Buddhist faith in Cambodia .
Tuol Sleng Museum
This converted school was used as a detainment and torture center during the purges of the Khmer Rouge in the late 70's. Today the buildings have been re-opened together with exhibits and photographs illustrating the atrocities which the Khmer Rouge committed.
Please note that the exhibits are of a disturbing nature and not suitable for children.
Killing Fields
Like the Tuol Sleng Museum , the Killing Fields have been re-opened to attest to the genocide crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge. At this site some 15 km out of town the Khmer Rouge executed and buried over 17,000 civilians in mass graves. In the center of the area is a glass stupa which houses 8.000 skulls which have been exhumed from the mass graves.
Please not that the exhibits are of a disturbing nature and not suitable for children
Udong
A former capital of Cambodia , Udong was founded by King Soryopor in 1601. It was built on a hill 40 km north of present day Phnom Penh .
King Ang Duong (1841 – 1850), a master builder created canals, bridges ,terraces, and approximately 100 pagodas in the area. Whilst little remains of the complex, Udong is still frequented by Khmers who go to pay homage to past kings.
Tonle Bati (Takeo Province)
Not far south of Phnom Penh is a 12 th century temple, Ta Prohm, built by Jayaverman Vll (1181 ÷ 1201). Consecrated to Buddha and the Brahma the temple is noted for its refined bas relief's. Near by is a smaller temple, Yeay Peau which also has some remarkable stone carvings.
Also, close to Tonle Bati there is a small lake with a beach and food stalls, where Phnom Penh residents picnic at the weekends.
Siem Reap / Angkor
Angkor Wat is the cultural home of the Khmer( Cambodian ) people and one the ancient wonders of the world. This vast network of Wats ( temples) dating back to the 7 th century is the center of some of the most important structures, statues, and carving produced in the name of the Buddhist and Hindu religions.
Fist discovered by Western archeologists in the late nineteenth century, the "lost City of Angkor" is just re-opening to foreign visitors exploring the many temples.
Angkor Wat
Covering an area of one square mile ( 1.6 sq km), Angkor Wat is one of the largest temple complexes in the world. The temple is dedicated to th god Vishnu, of whom the Emperor was considered a reincarnation.
Basically a three- layered pyramid, Angkor Wat has towers at the corners of each story. The marvelous bas-relief of Angkor Wat's outer wall of the lower picture gallery depicts scenes of the Ramayama. Angkor Wat represents the high- point in the evolution of Khmer architecture; all subsequent monument building begins an age of excess and decadence.
Angkor Thom (which means great city)
The royal city itself, covers an area of four square miles( 10.4 sq km) . The total length of the wall surrounding the city is 7-12 miles( 12 km); incorporated into the wall are a number of earlier buildings: Baphuon and Phimeanakas. The city is dominated by a mania for colossal size, punctuated with enormous numbers of towers and relief's.
Bayon
The temple of Angkor Thom, is located in the city's geographic center. The 50- tower temple is an awesome sight. At first glances, the complex seems a shapeless mass of stone. Suddenly, further scrutiny reveals a face, enigmatic and silent, watching with half- closed eyes. Soon, another face is made out, and another, and still yet another, until they are all around- silent, heavy, and impressive, staring from a primitive and remote time.
Preah Khan
A Buddhist temple built by King Jayavarman VII to honor his dead father, is located in the town where the king routed the Chams. The temple has two levels supported by round stone columns (round columns are unusual at Angkor) and a wooden stairway used to access the upper floor. Because of its unusual round columns, it is believed the temple was modeled after a wooden building long since decomposed in the jungle climate.
Sras Srang
A wooden pavilion built during the reign of Jayavarman VII on the shore of the women's bath, is situated on a small lake. Chou Ta- kuan observed the women bathing: "They have no shame about leaving their clothes on the river bank and going into the water". Although the wooden pavilion has disappeared, the stone Nagas that led from the bathhouse top the water remain.
Ta Prohm
Built by Jayavarman VII as a shrine for his mother and as a monastery devoted to its upkeep. A stele referred to the temple as a monument "whose limbs are adorned with gold and resplendent with gems". The magnificent roots of a tree pushing between the huge stone blocks of the temple have been left that way internationally, at the suggestion of French art conservators Bernard Groslier and Goerge Coedes, who devoted years to the understanding and preservation of the treasures at Angkor. The sight of the tree's powerful embrace of the stone evokes feelings a visitor will very likely remember forever.
