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Cambodia Attractions
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For most, Cambodia first conjures up the legendary Angkor (the magnificent
Empire erected by Kings between the 9th and 13th centuries) that continues
to admiration from Khmers and foreigners alike. The humanity and disaster of
the nature have failed to compromise the awe of Angkor. The temples remain
with an enigmatic grandeur, as a testimony to the Empire that symbolized the
country at the present day.
They are the silent witnesses to the perennial cycles of life, which occur
with each rainy season. The Kingdom emerges from its lethargy and springs
back to life. Clouds, swollen with moisture, burst their monsoon rains to
fill in the Tonle Sap (Great Lake ) that bring over thousands tones of fresh
water fishes.
Every year, the country is transformed in a nature cycle, which is unique to
Cambodia. The flow of the mighty Mekong River swells until it forces the
Tonle Sap to reverse its course, pushing up stream from the ancient capital.
Every year, the reversal of the river is celebrated with the country's most
spectacular Water Festival in November. |
Phnom Penh
 Cambodia's capital still retains an undeniable charm despite its
tumultuous and often violent past. The crumbling colonial architecture makes
an attractive backdrop to bustling streetside cafes and the redeveloped
riverfront precinct - a particularly lively part of town on Friday and
Saturday nights. The city has several impressive wats
(temple-monasteries), including Wat Ounalom (headquarters of the Cambodian
Buddhist patriarchate), Wat Phnom (the hilltop pagoda that gave the city its
name) and the newly painted Wat Lang Ka. Pride of place goes to the
spectacular Silver Pagoda, one of the few places in Cambodia where artefacts
embodying the brilliance and richness of Khmer culture were preserved by the
Khmer Rouge (although only 40% of its former glories were 'preserved'). The
National Museum is another highlight, with outstanding displays of Khmer
crafts.
The Killing Fields of Choeung Ek are a grisly reminder of the atrocities
committed by the Khmer Rouge. Some 17,000 people were killed here, just 15km
southwest of the city centre, and more than 8000 skulls, arranged by sex and
age, are visible behind the glass panel of the Memorial Stupa, which was
erected in 1988.
 Prior to their murder, the victims had been detained at the
prison known as S-21, housed in the Tuol Svay Prey High School. Today, the
Tuol Sleng Museum serves as testament to the crimes of the Khmer Rouge, and
few details of each victim's torture and death are left to the imagination.
The Central Market area, which includes Monivong Blvd, is the main centre
for budget travellers, with cheap accommodation and plenty of food stalls.
Head to the city's half-dozen or so street markets to browse and bargain for
jewellery, antiques or the ubiquitous kramas (checked cotton scarves). The
riverfront is the place to go for cheap beer and good food.
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Hotels in Phnom Penh >>
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Last Minute Hotels Phnom Penh |
 Holiday
Villa Phnom Penh 
Holiday Villa Phnom Penh is strategically located along the Monivong
Boulevard, within the main business district of the city. Surrounded by
shopping arenas, the property is only 5 minutes from the Central Market and
Wat Mongkulwan. With its French colonial design, the hotel offers 74
well-appointed guest rooms, complete with modern amenities. Specialised in
Sushi, Sashimi, Tempura and Tepanyaki, the on-site restaurant serves
authentic Asian, western and Japanese cuisine, for breakfast, lunch and
dinner. The lounge provides a comprehensive beverage list, including non-
alcoholic drinks and cocktails. Your meetings are assured of success with
the complete conference facilities and impeccable services.
>> click here for last minute offers
Click here for more
information and Booking Details » |
Phnom Penh Private City Tour
This tour takes in some of Cambodia's fine Khmer and French influences
with visits in the morning to the Silver Pagoda and National Museum.
After a tasty lunch, you will visit the Tuol Sleng Museum, a testament
to Cambodia's recent bloody past under Pol Pot's Khmer Rouge regime.
Click here for more information and Booking Details » |
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» PHNOM PENH
Sightseeing Tours Events & Attractions |
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Angkor
 The celebrated temples of Angkor are Cambodia's greatest tourist
attraction. The 100 or so temples are the sacred remains of what was once a
much larger administrative and religious centre, and were built between the
9th and 13th centuries to glorify a succession of Khmer kings. The three
most magnificent temples are Bayon, Ta Prohm and the immense Angkor Wat.
Most of Angkor was abandoned in the 15th century and the temples were
gradually cloaked by forest. The site became the source of scholarly
interest in the late-19th century after the publication of Voyage à Siam
et dans le Cambodge by French naturalist Henri Mouhot. Efforts were
undertaken to clear away the jungle vegetation that threatened to completely
destroy the monuments, and restoration continues today.
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Battambang
 Cambodia's second-largest city is an elegant riverside town, home to some
of the best-preserved colonial architecture in the country. Until recently
Battambang was off the map for road travellers, but facilities have recently
been improved and it makes a great base for visiting the nearby temples and
villages. It's a secondary hub on the overland route between Thailand and
Vietnam, and if National Hwy 6 from Poipet to Siem Reap is ever upgraded
it'll become an even smaller hub. The network of charming old French shop
houses clustered along the riverbank is the real highlight here, and there
are a number of wats scattered around the town. The small museum has a
collection of Angkorian-era artefacts, and beyond the town there's a number
of hilltop temples, yet more wats and a large lake. Battambang is a pretty
bumpy 293km (181mi) bus or share-taxi ride from the capital.
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Sihanoukville
 Sihanoukville's beaches aren't a patch on Thailand's, and sights are few
and far between, but as Cambodia's only maritime port it makes a reasonable
base for exploring
 the south coast and nearby Ream National Park. Four
beaches ring the headland - Ochheuteal, Sokha, Independence and Victory -
and the fishing port offers the odd photo opportunity at sunrise or sunset.
There are a few dive operations in town, plus a waterfall an hour's drive
away that's swimmable. The sleepy colonial riverside resort of Kampot isn't
too far away, with the strangely skeletal remains of seaside Kep further
along. Sihanoukville is 232km (143mi) from the capital, and is served by
regular buses.
Kompon Som or known as Sihanoukville at the
present day is the port which links to Phnom Penh, the Capital of Cambodia,
where visitors will be spoiled by its French Colonial charm. The National
Museum is the place where ancient Khmer crafts and other local items are
collected and displayed. And, temples or known as Wats such as Wat Ounalom,
Wat Phnom and Wat Lang Ka in this country are religious monuments, Killing
Fields of Choeung Ek is a memprial for those 17,000 killed people as well. |
Kratie (Home of Freshwater Dolphins)
Is a sleepy Mekong River town situated on the east bank of the mighty
river? It’s very picturesque with sandbars and big islands out front and
bends in the river. Unlike in many towns around Cambodia, the war years were
fairly kind to the French architecture and the roads, at least in the town
itself. There are some nice-looking homes of French and Khmer style
scattered about, adding to the pleasant feel of the place. The rare
freshwater Irrawaddy dolphins make their home in the
Mekong River,
just north of Kratie. With only around fifteen to twenty remaining, they are
worth a visit.
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Borei
Angkor Hotel Siem Reap
Siem Reap: Angkor Wat - The Ancient Temples Tour