Cambodia: Top 15 attractions in the land of the Kitcheners

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is probably the first thing you think of when it comes to Cambodia: the giant temple complex with its famous "cone" towers, fantastic architecture, the analogs of which seem to be nowhere else on earth - all this attracts thousands of tourists.

The temple is dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu - the largest cult building in the world. It is a complex three-level structure with many staircases and passages, topped with five towers. In total, there are about 200 monuments on the territory of more than 400 square kilometers. This monument of Cambodia is simply impossible to avoid.

Royal Palace of Cambodia

The golden roofs of the Royal Palace of Cambodia, dazzling in the sun, are easy to spot from afar - it is the only "high-rise" building in the historic district of Phnom Penh and one of the most incredible architectural structures of the capital of the kingdom. To this day, the royal family is stationed here, so not all the palace halls are open to the public.

However, the remaining ones are more than enough to amaze the European tourist sweet on oriental exotics. Among them are the Throne Hall, crowned with a 59-meter tower, the Royal Treasury and Napoleon II's villa, the Silver Pagoda and an amazing beauty and value of the Emerald Buddha statue, as well as many hundreds of meters of frescoes with the events of the Ramayana. In short, all the splendor of imperial Cambodia in one place!

National Museum of Cambodia

Not far from the Royal Palace sits another important Cambodian landmark, the National Museum of Cambodia. The museum displays a complete collection of cultural, historical and archaeological artifacts representing the most significant periods of Cambodia's existence, from pre-Angkorian times to the 15th century AD.

Construction of the National Museum began in 1917, and in 1920 its door opened to the public. Nowadays there are many sculptures here - ancient statues of deities, demons, heroes of folk legends. But the central place in this vast collection is undoubtedly given to the Angkor statues - these are bronze statues of Vishnu, Shiva, Rama, Ganesh, sculpture of Jayavarman. In total, the museum has about 5 thousand statues, which well trace the development of Khmer culture.

Angkor Thom

Angkor Thom is another temple city and the last major capital of the Khmer Empire in the 12th century. The place is worth a visit to see the temples and architectural sights. Chief among them is the Bayon Temple, famous for its huge stone faces. There are more than 200 of them and none is like the other.

The temple was originally built as a Buddhist temple. The local reliefs on the walls, as in other temples, depict mythological, historical and religious subjects. But it is also a place to view everyday scenes of rural life, hunting, fishing and trading with detailed and expressive architectural reflections.

Kirirom National Park

Within the park you can explore trekking routes with access to viewpoints, rent a mountain bike, swim in waterfalls, study rare animal species, you can picnic and stay in a tent overnight if you take permission at the entrance. This is a great opportunity to admire the starry sky away from the lights of big cities.

The landscape of the park is different from the tropical landscape of Cambodia, with pine trees and orchids, clear lakes and views from the rocky mountains.

Silver Pagoda

The Silver Pagoda, also called the Emerald Buddha Pagoda, is the highlight of the sightseeing program in Phnom Penh and all of Cambodia. The floor here is lined with solid silver ingots, along the walls are exhibited valuable gifts to the kings of Cambodia from Eastern and European colleagues, and in the center stands the "emerald" statue of Buddha, cast from crystal "baccarat", opposite to which sits many other Buddhas, including 90-.

In total, the walls of the pagoda exhibit 1650 of the most valuable artifacts, and its walls are painted with frescoes telling about the epic Ramayana. In addition, the Silver Pagoda complex has more than ten different buildings, including the tomb of King Norodom, the ceremonial pavilion and the pavilion with the footprint of the Buddha.

Psar Thmey Market

It is simply impossible to come to Cambodia and not visit a single local market. Cambodian markets are full of oriental flavor, because only here you can see the real life without a great view. At the same time you can buy numerous souvenirs for your relatives and friends.

The most important market of the Cambodian capital is Psar Thmey market. Dark yellow building in art deco style was erected in 1935-1937. There are numerous stores selling valuable small things such as old coins, jewelry, watches and more.

Tonle Sap Lake

Tonle Sap Lake in Cambodia is also called the country's inland sea. However, its size is very variable - its area averages 2700 km2, and only in the rainy season it overflows in the vicinity, flooding local fields, meadows and forests.

There are boat trips around the lake, this pleasure is provided by the locals for a small fee.

Bokor ghost town

In the 1920s, when Cambodia was still a French colony, colonizers decided to build in this country their own Las Vegas with blackjack and cabaret.

For the construction they chose Bokor Mountain - a favorite vacation spot of the French elite of that time. For 40 years the city prospered until the French finally left Cambodia in the 1960s. When the fashionable resort gradually began to empty.

Now thrillers and horror movies are filmed here, and travelers who like to tickle their nerves satisfy their needs here.

Ream National Park

A relatively short distance to the east of Sihanoukville is a magnificent attraction of Cambodia - Ream National Park, spread over an area of more than 200 square kilometers. The park is unique in that its territory borders several ecosystems at once - virgin mangrove forests, tropical jungles, sea coast, a couple of islands and a river delta.

The park is also famous for its large population of monkeys, and Tonle Sap Lake is home to a rare species of freshwater dolphin.

Koh Rong Island

This is one of Cambodia's most famous and beautiful islands with white sand beaches, crystal clear waters and dense jungle. On Koh Rong you can go snorkeling, admire bioluminescent plankton with a peak of glow in August and September, walk through the rainforest, see the life of the locals.

Vacations can be spent in different parts of the island: in one part you can find solitude, in another - nightlife.

Wat Phnom Temple

The symbol of Phnom Penh is located on the only hill in the city with a height of 27 meters.

The temple has been rebuilt and restored several times, and its current version is 1926. In the center of the temple is an altar with a central statue of a bronze Buddha for offerings and prayers. On the walls and ceilings are murals and paintings recounting the Buddha's previous transformations to the time of his enlightenment. A small statue of Mrs. Pen, the founder of the shrine, can be seen in the southwest corner of the temple, and offerings are also made to her.

Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

The museum's exhibits tell the story of the brutal communist regime of the Khmer Rouge led by their leader Pol Pot. During the regime's reign, some 3 million Cambodians died between 1975 and 1979.

The museum occupies the site of a former high school, which the Khmer Rouge turned into a prison. The school premises were converted into cells for prisoners - with iron beds, shackles and chains. In January 1979, Cambodia gained freedom from the Khmer Rouge regime - the interiors of the museum retain the setting that was there on the day of Cambodia's liberation.

Verachev National Park

Verachev National Park is the largest in Cambodia, with an area of 3,325 square kilometers. In Verachev you can walk through flood meadows and under the cover of evergreen humid forests, see gibbons and rhinoceros birds, meet the tribes living in the national park, and simply enjoy the leisurely flow of life in the bosom of incredibly beautiful nature.

Preahvihea Temple

Preah Vihea Temple Complex is one of the hidden and hard to find gems of Cambodian sightseeing beauty. Located on the border with Thailand on the edge of a 625-meter-high plateau, for many years it was the subject of territorial disputes between the two countries, until in 2008 it was included in the UNESCO list and given two independent entrances.

In Preahvihei you can admire a magnificent collection of temples and shrines in honor of the god Shiva, which due to their remoteness have been virtually untouched by man, and thanks to their location on the hill they were spared by the jungle.