Phnom
Penh is a graceful capital, a small city of old
Asia, unlike the developing metropolises in nearby
countries. Situated at the confluence of the Mekong,
Bassac and Tonle Sap Rivers, the city retains
much traditional and colonial charm. French villas
hidden among tree-lined boulevards remind the
visitor that the city was once considered the
pearl of Asia. The riverfront area remains one
of the most attractive in the region and is great
for a late afternoon stroll. Recent political
changes have encouraged a boom, with new hotels,
restaurants, bars and nightclubs springing up
around the city.
The
Royal Palace
This
graceful structure is very much a focus of the
city. Standing on the site of the former citadel,
it was built for King Norodom in front of the
Mekong. Inside its walls are the Throne Hall,
the Chan Chaya Pavillion, the Napoleon III Pavillion,
and the King's and Queen's residential quarters.
Today, only the Silver Pagoda is open. The Silver
Pagoda is a gilltering chamber of royal treasures,
also known as the Pagoda of the Emerald Buddha,
Inside, its floor is made up of 5,000 silver blocks.
In the centre of the pagoda, there is a magnificent
17th century emerald Buddha statue made of baccarat
crystal. The walls enclosing the pagoda are covered
with ancient frescoes depicting episodes from
the Ramayana.
National
Museum
Another
elegant city landmark, the museum is housed in
a terracotta-roofed structure of traditional Cambodian
design, which was built in between 1917 and 1920.
It offers a charming setting for a stunning collection
of Khmer art. The intricate sculptures date from
both the Angkorian and pre-Angkorian eras, complimented
by recent examples of Cambodian art and a wooden
Buddha collection.
Wat
Phnom
Standing
atop a small hill is the 15th century stupa containing
the ashes of an early monarch. Wat Phnom is a
city landmark and a place for worship.
Wat
Ounalom
Facing the Tonle Sap near the Royal Palace, this
pagoda serves as the headquarters for one of Cambodia's
Buddhist Patriarchs.
Tuol
Sleng and Choeng Ek
When
the Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975 they converted
a former high school in the suburbs of Phnom Penh
into a detention and torture centre known as Tuol
Sleng, or S-21. A genocide museum was established
at Tuol Sleng after 1979 and today it remains
as it looked when abandoned by the Khmer Rouge.
Hundreds of faces of those tortured line the walls
inside the old school. Most of the 17,000 people
detained at Tuol Sleng were eventually transported
to Choeung Ek, a mass grave site located 15km
outside Phnom Penh. Known to locals as the Killing
Fields, Choeung Ek serves as a memorial to those
killed under the Khmer Rouge rule. These sites
can be extremely distressing, but are an essential
part of understanding Cambodia’s tragic
past.
Koh
Dach
This
island on the Mekong River is home to traditional
silk weaving villages and can be visited as part
of a half-day boat trip.
Sunset
Cruise on Mekong River
A one-hour cruise
takes in the daily life of the people living
near the river. The sunset is spectacular, as
the reflected rays of the dropping sun cast
a golden glow across the water.
Phnom
Baset
Phnom
Baset is home to a small pre-Angkorian temple,
called temple of the Perfect Woman, and a kitsch,
cement replica of Angkor Wat. It is 32km to the
north-west of Phnom Penh.
Oudong
Oudong
served as the country's capital under several
monarchs from the 17th to the 19th centuries.
Royal ruins stand upon a hillock offering panoramic
views of the countryside. It is situated about
40km north of Phnom Penh.
Tonle Bati
Tonle Bati has two important
12th century temples. Ta Prohm was built by Jayavarman
VII and is consecrated both to Buddha and to Brahma,
and is interesting for its refined bas reliefs.
It is 35km southeast of Phnom Penh.
Prasat Neang
Khmau
Also known as the temple
of the Black Virgin, it may once have served as
a sanctuary to Kali, the dark goddess of destruction,
it is
situated about 55 km south of Phnom Penh.
Phnom Chisor
Phnom
Chisor is an 11th century temple set upon a small
mountain offering a panoramic view of the Cambodian
countryside. It is located 59km southeast of Phnom
Penh, just off National Highway 2.
Hanuman is a member of the Cambodian Association of Travel Agents and the Cambodian Community-based Ecotourism Network. Hanuman was cited in ‘The Guide to Responsible Tourism in Cambodia, Laos & Vietnam'.
