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Phnom Penh

Phnom Penh is the capital city of the Kingdom of Cambodia. It was in 1422 by King Podhea Yat when he abandoned the then captial city of Angkor and built five wats in Phnom Penh on the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. Phnom Penh is also the permanent location of the Government. Development continued after the independence of Cambodia in 1953 but was halted abruptly by the coup of the Khmer Rouge. The city was completely evacuated by the regime. It remained empty until the fall of the Khmer Rouge in 1979, after which those who had survived the Killing Fields began to return almost immediately. UN sponsored elections in 1993 initiated a new era of growth which continues today.

Highlights of the City:

Royal Palace The Royal Palace overlooks the river at the heart of Phnom Penh. The Palace, built in 1866 under the French protectorate and King Norodom. Most of the buildings of the palace are in fact 20th century constructions, the designs are inspired by traditional Khmer religious architecture.

Silver Pagoda Within the grounds of the Royal Palace, the Silver Pagoda is so named for its amazing floor which is made entirely of silver tiles.

National Museum Is located next to the Royal Palace. It’s 5,000 displays include an extensive collection of Angkorian era statues and other artifacts.

The Riverfront Enjoy a romantic stroll along Phnom Penh's Sithowath Quay to enjoy the view of the confluence of the Mekong and Tonle Sap Rivers. The water level varies greatly depending upon what time of the year you visit and is at it’s highest at the end of the rainy season in October. The sunrise can be spectacular over the river in front of the Royal Palace. There are also regular 2-hour cruises during the day which are particularly pleasant if combined with lunch or dinner and sunset on board a cruising restaurant.

Wat Phnom Located in North Phnom Penh. A beautiful, active Buddhist wat atop a small hill which was the original founding site of Phnom Penh. The legend tells of the beautiful Lady Penh who retrieved four Buddha statues from a floating koki tree and built a hill, or Phnom to house them. It is a tranquil place to catch a cool breeze and watch pilgrims pay their respects and visit the fortune tellers there.

The Markets If you have time you should try and visit at least one traditional market while you are in Phnom Penh. The two best known are The Russian Market and the Central Market. The Russian Market is not so centrally located but is the best for souvenirs, curious and silks and the vendors appear to be more realistic in their expectations. The 1935 art deco-style Central Market is architecturally interesting but is geared almost entirely to the tourist who doesn’t have time to venture further afield and the vendors are more feisty. More exclusive shopping can be found along Streets 178 and 240 where there are a number of elegant boutiques and galleries displaying contemporary Cambodian art, fine silks and sculptures.

Toul Sleng Genocide Museum

Once a high school it has now been converted into the detention and interrogation center known as S-21. Political enemies suspected of treason were once brought here and tortured for confessions. The terrible history of Toul Sleng was documented by the Khmer Rouge in the horrific photos of many of the victims.