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: Moul Jetr, Picture by : Nathan Dexter and Courtesy of Royal
Palace. |
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So many
visitors think of Toul Sleng and the Killing Fields
when they think of sights in Phnom Penh, but in
the middle of the city there is a happier attraction,
where the glories of Cambodia’s past are on
display.
The Silver Pagoda, or the Preah Vihear Preah Keo
Morokat (the Emerald Pagoda) to Khmers, lies within
the grounds of the Royal Palace, situated near the
banks of the Tonle Sap.
Originally a wooden structure, the palace was initially
constructed in 1892 during the reign of King Norodom,
but rebuilt in its present grandeur by King Norodom
Sihanouk in 1962.
And he spared no effort to make this a true embodiment
of the brilliance of Khmer art and a rich of an
ancient culture. More than 5300, 1.125 kilo silver
tiles make up the floor of the Silver Pagoda, giving
it its name among foreigners. The silver floor alone
weighs over six tones.
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The Silver Pagoda is a
popular tourist attraction.
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The staircase
leading into the pagoda is marble, and inside, two breathtaking
representations of the Buddha hold court.
The Emerald Buddha is, in fact, made of Baccarat crystal,
and dates back to the 17th century. A small glass case
nearby enshrines a sacred Buddha relic, brought from Sri
Lanka by the Venerable Loeva Em, formerly of Wat Lanka,
in 1956.
But the second statue of Buddha is the one which often
catches the eye of visitors the most strongly. Its 90
kilo gold body is studded with 2086 diamonds. The largest,
on Buddha's crown, weighs 25 karats. Cast in 1904 by King
Sisowath at the request of his elder brother King Norodom,
it represents Maitreya Buddha in the Buddhist Year 5000
the future Buddha. But even here in the Silver Pagoda,
there has been loss. Although the Khmer Rouge regime preserved
the pagoda to convince foreign governments that their
regime was interested in maintaining |
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statuette of the Buddha
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culturally
important sites in Cambodia, more than half of what
was once displayed here was still destroyed. Even
so, cast gold headdresses made for the royal dancers,
golden Buddha statues in different poses the gifts
of royalty and dignitaries from around the world
and a myriad of jewels and precious antiques still
remain, with a total of about 1650 pieces on display.
Guides skilled in English, French, Japanese and
even Dutch and German can provide visitors with
a wealth of information. "Among the thousands
of artifacts on display in the palace and the pagoda,
I find my guests are most interested in the Emerald
and Gold Buddha's," Mrs. Tan Lynette, a French-speaking
palace guide, said.
"But the floor of the Silver Pagoda, too, is
very impressive for most to walk on tiles made of
pure silver!"
Mr Hoeung Kiet, a royal clerk at the ticket window,
says although the number of visitors was down overall
during September, they are now on the rise again,
and most visitors are Khmer. |
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"This November there
were about 700 visitors a day coming into the Royal
Palace, and about two thirds of them were local,"
he said.
The entrance fee for Khmers wishing to visit the
Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda is 1000 riel.
Foreign visitors pay $2, and are required to pay
$2 more to bring in a camera, or $5 for a video
camera. The Royal Palace is open between 8am and
11am, and 2 till 5pm daily.
Photography is not allowed inside the pagoda itself.
But even without photographs of the magnificent
temple, this is one of the most glorious sites in
the whole of Cambodia.
The Silver Pagoda is an important celebration of
Khmer arts and achievements over hundreds of years,
and the sight of the glittering Buddhas and the
precious ground will remain in any visitor's memory
for many years to come.
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Mrs. Tan Lynette informs
a group of French visitors about the history
of the Silver Pagoda.
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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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