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: H. Rajana. |
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Royal Palace
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PHNOM PENH
Before or after visiting Siem Reap to the famous
Angkor Wat, there are many 'must-sees' in the capital
Phnom Penh. If you wish to explore new cultures,
meet local people and enjoy local cuisine, here
are some interesting places to go to:
The Royal Palace, which has been used by kings for
coronation ceremonies and receiving State guests;
The Silver Pagoda on the palace grounds, where one
can view 5,000 silver titles each weighing 1 kilo,
a 90 kilo golden statue of the Buddha decorated
with thousands of diamonds, the largest of which
is 25 carats as well as an emerald Buddha figurine
plus hundreds of valuable cultural and religious
relics. |
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| The National Museum
offers very interesting exhibits of more than 5,000 artifacts,
including an eight armed statue of Vishnu (from 6th or
7th century), a statue of Shiva (9th century), and a statue
Buddha dating from pre-Angkor period. Visitors can also
see a statue of King Jayavarman VII (1181 to after 1201),
who reconstructed the capital, the present Angkor Thom
that was pillaged by Cham warriors in 1177. Jayavarman
VII is the king credited with establishing a network of
roads in Cambodia, using innovative building techniques
to raise them above the level of swamps and building sophisticated
bridges. Also on display are pottery and bronze pieces
dating back to the periods of Funan and Chenla (4th to
9th centuries). |
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A massive
population of bats estimated to number more than
one million, flies out from the museum's attic and
circles the capital city of Phnom Penh before sunset
and constitutes a spectacular sight for tourists.
While Museum authorities want artifacts protected
from bat droppings, wildlife advocates want these
bats protected as well. Wat Phnom, "Wat"
stands for pagoda and "Phnom" is mountain
in Khmer. The current structure is more than 200
years old, making it the oldest pagoda in the city.
It is built on an artificial hillock after which
the capital is named. The pagoda was constructed
in 1372 according to legend, by a wealthy widow
named Penh after five statues of the Buddha, four
in bronze and one in stone, in the hollow of a Koki
tree log deposited by the waters of the Mekong River.
The "Vihear" (Inner Temple) of the pagoda
was rebuilt or renovated many times in 1437, 1805,
1994, 1926 and most recently in 1998. In the large
stupa on the west rest the remains of the first
King of the post-Angkor period of the Cambodia history.
On the south of the passage between the temple and
the stupa is the Alter of Grandma Penh. It is here
that many people come to pray for good luck and
success in business. People go to make offerings
in garlands of the jasmine flowers or with simply
a
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National Museum
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hand of bananas
when their requests or prayers are answered. The main
entrance to Wat Phnom is by the eastern stairway, which
is guarded by lion and dragon balustrades.
A friendly female elephant is available every day for
tourists to ride around Wat Phnom, giving one the feeling
of being a Khmer mandarin during the time of the Angkor
epoch. Across the road to the south of Wat Phnom, fortunetellers
sit under the shade of grand old trees, waiting for customers
curious to know what awaits them in years to come. The
Bassac Theatre: offers occasional cultural performances
including traditional Khmer dances. By special arrangements,
the School of Fine Arts often organize dance and music
performances on weekends especially Saturdays.
Independence Monument: This impressive structure was inaugurated
in 1958 to commemorate the declaration of Cambodia's independence
from France on November 9, 1953. It also served as a monument
to Cambodia's war dead. |
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Wat Phnom
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Walking
into the monument is not permitted. The best view
for taking pictures is from the west across the
street. The Confluence of the Mekong: The confluence
of the Mekong and Tonle Sap is geographically a
unique view. The current of the water rushing into
the Tonle Sap during the rainy season and reversing
of the same into the Mekong during the monsoon is
truly a rare sight to behold.
Across The Japanese Friendship Bridge to "Fooddom":
On the other side of the Tonle Sap River across
the Mittapheap Kumpuchea Japon bridge, one can enjoy
a great variety of food from the strip of restaurants
of all sizes which line both sides of the road.
There are about a hundred restaurants in Prek Leap.If
you wish to escape the bustle and hustle of the
city, there are other alternatives:
Perhaps a river cruise or take the Mekong Island
tour that lets you experience riverside landscape
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and to buy handicrafts
at selected tourists shops where you'll find sales attendants
able to speak your native language.
A visit to the Chroy Changvar peninsular opposite the
Royal Palace; You can go there by getting across the Japanese
Friendship Bridge by motorbike taxi or by boat to experience
quiet life-style of the islanders there and explore the
many well shaded lanes, |
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visiting
pagodas along the way. In Phnom Penh, there are
many old pagodas like the Botum Pagoda (built in
1422) on the riverfront north of the National Museum,
the Langka Pagoda (1422) just south west of the
Independence Monument.
Two other places that will probably shock tourists
are The Tuol Sleng 'Museum' in the Beung Keng Kong
precinct, which was a 'high-school turned prison'
under the Khmer Rouge Regime from 1975-1979.
The other is Choeung Ek Killing Field where thousands
of people were slaughtered.
After visiting these places, tourists will better
understand the history of Cambodia and perhaps appreciate
the Cambodia of today more. The Central Post Office:
Just in case you need to telephone home, send letters
or packages abroad, you can go to the Central Post
Office located at the corner of Street 102 and 13,
a block east of Wat Phnom. Collectable stamps are
available at this Office as well. It is open everyday
in the morning and afternoon. |
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Independence Monument
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Suite
B8, Regency Square, InterContinental Hotel, 294 Mao Tse Toung
Boulevard,
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia.
Tel: (855) 23 213 133 Fax: (855) 23 213 033
E-mail:
editor@leisurecambodia.com |
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