Cambodia Indochina – one of the smallest countries in Southeast Asia, belongs to Indochina, the center of Southeast Asia. This diverse country offers a number of interesting travel destinations. Cambodia is mostly associated with the Angkor Wat temple complex and the Khmer Rouge regime, whose shocking evidence of crime can be seen in Phnom Penh. However, few people know that in this country you can also relax on beautiful beaches, thanks to access to the Gulf of Thailand.
About country. Sights of Cambodia
Cambodia has a lot to offer those who are interested in history and culture. There are well-developed regions as well as areas for research. Beautiful beaches, interesting national parks, delicious food and colorful markets make Cambodia a great travel destination. There are few cars on the islands, a calm and relaxed atmosphere without much traffic.
The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Penh
In addition to beautiful markets and small pagodas, the city itself has a lot to see and learn a lot about the history of Cambodia.
Cambodia, the capital of Phnom PenhPhnom Penh has long had to deal with a negative reputation – the sad past of the country. The tyranny of the Khmer Rouge since 1975 has brought great suffering to the country and cost the lives of many people.
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum represents this period of history in the country. The building, converted into a prison camp, was once a school and is now a museum.
In the capital, you can visit some of the halls of the royal palace, in which the king still lives. Next to the royal palace is a silver pagoda where the royal family comes to pray and where their ancestors are buried.
Evening Phnom Penh
Destinations Cambodia
The provinces of central Cambodia also have several interesting places to visit. Some tours will lead to the “Silk Islands” – islands in the Mekong outside the city. They are located just five kilometers from the capital Phnom Penh and offer a small break from the hustle and bustle of the big city.
Silk Island
Here you can experience life on the river and get an idea of the silk weaving, agriculture and aquaculture that takes place there. You can visit floating fish farms and take a boat ride at sunset. The route passes through a very original area, which is distinguished by local agriculture.
Near Phnom Penh in Phnom Baset, you can visit temples of the 8th century and a pagoda with a reclining Buddha. From the hill, there is a beautiful view of the surrounding rice fields and villages.
About 40 km northwest of Phnom Penh, at the foot of Mount Phnom, is Oudong. This place was the capital of Cambodia until 1866. Here you can visit various temples and three large sanctuaries in which the ashes of three former kings rest.
West
There are not many tourists in western Cambodia. Colonial architecture, beautiful temples, sleepy villages – this is just a small part of the big and beautiful Western Cambodia.
The second largest city in Cambodia is Battambang, a very calm city with a pleasant atmosphere and well-preserved colonial architecture from the early 20th century.
Battambang Battambang
The city is located on the Sangka River, 290 km northwest of Phnom Penh. Battambang is currently the most rice producing province in Cambodia.
Interesting! Rice fields and terraces are a wonderful sight for tourists.
The Governor’s Residence is one of the most beautiful colonial buildings in Battambang. The two-story building was built in early 1900 by an Italian architect for the last governor. After the construction was completed, the province went to France, and the governor could not use his residence, which he also built.
Riding the bamboo train is a special experience. In the 1980s, it was introduced for locomotion. Today it is a tourist attraction. There is only one route in both directions. If another bamboo train approaches, it must be dismantled so that it can be run in the opposite direction. Bamboo train can accelerate up to 40 km/h.
The temple complex Wat Tahm Rai is located in the city center and is the most beautiful pagoda in Battambang with detailed decoration and many statues. The statue of a white elephant in front of the temple is nicknamed “Pagoda of the White Elephants”.
The central market of Phsar Nat dates back to the French colonial era and was built in the Art Deco style. A visit to the Phare Ponleu Selpak circus will be an interesting event for all ages. There is a circus school in Battambang.
The 150-meter mountain Phnom Sampo, surrounded by green trees, is located twelve kilometers from Battambang. In the center of the mountain is a cave system with a reclining Buddha statue. The caves are also known as the “Caves of Death”. Here the Khmer Rouge killed their victims, who were thrown into a crevice. Millions of bats fly out of the cave at night.
The outlines of the temples of Wat Bran and Wat Koping can be recognized by the golden towers. The temple was built on the model of Angkor Wat.
The city of Kratie is located right on the banks of the Mekong, opposite the river island of Koh Trong, where you can see the rare dolphins of the Ayeyarwaddy River.
Siem Reap – in the northwest of Cambodia, located between Tonle Sap Lake and Angkor – the best starting point for excursions to the largest temple complex in the world, floating villages and national parks in the area.
Siem Reap Cambodia photoIn the province of Siem Reap, the most famous place is the temples of Angkor, near the city of Siem Reap. Siem Reap is like a stop on the way to the temple complex of Angkor Wat. Since the 90s, international interest in the temples of Angkor has been aroused.
Siem Reap Cambodia
Since the mid-90s, a tourist boom began in a small town and became so great that in 2006 an international airport was opened.
Additional Information! Angkor Wat is the most famous ancient temple in Cambodia. With 5 lotus-shaped towers rising 65 meters into the sky, it remains one of the ancient wonders of the world.
Angkor Wat is considered the largest temple complex in the world with many thousands of temples built by the Khmer between the 9th and 15th centuries and is the state symbol of the country.
Nearby is Tonle Sap – the largest inland lake in Southeast Asia, Tonle Sap Lake is not only the largest lake in all of Southeast Asia, but also one of the richest inland waters in the world. The lake is also used as a transport route between different cities,
East
The east from Mondulkiri is often referred to as the wild east of Cambodia. The landscape and the jungle are absolutely unique here. Saint Monorom is the only village with several hotels and restaurants. A trip to the wild east of Cambodia is something special, far from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.
Deep in the east of Cambodia, in the provinces of Modulkiri and Rattankiri, are the country’s most beautiful national parks.
Virachi National Park – in the northeast of Cambodia, between Laos and Vietnam is one of the largest reserves in Cambodia. The area is largely undeveloped and consists of dense jungle, waterfalls and mountains. There are many wild animals here: elephants, leopards and tigers.
The mountain temple Prasat Preah Vihear was built in the 11th century, dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The Hindu temple stands on the 525-meter-high Pei Tadi rocky hill in the Dongrek Mountains. It has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Cambodia and Thailand have been arguing for decades over the origin of the temple. Even if most of the temple is in ruins, some parts are still original.
Kratie is a city in Cambodia, in the northeast of the country. The city is located right on the banks of the Mekong, opposite the river island of Koh Trong. The sites are home to the Irrawaddy Dolphins, which can be observed here.
South and islands
The coast of Cambodia is becoming more and more popular. It has dream islands like Koh Rong and Koh Rong Samloem.
The city of Sihanoukville is known for its beaches and is probably Cambodia’s most popular beach resort for tourists.
The coastal towns of Kep and Kampot are also popular tourist destinations due to their quirkiness and laid-back atmosphere, surrounded by rice paddies and rural areas.
Kampot is located about 30 km from the Vietnamese border. In Chinese-influenced Kampot, traces of the French colonial era are still visible. The French Quarter is perfect for a walk. From there, you can quickly get to the banks of the Teuk Zhou River. The city has a zoological garden, Bokor Hill National Park, and the Elephant Mountains.
Kampot is popular as a starting point for tours of the coast and the adjacent national park.
Bokor Hill is a national park in Cambodia that is worth seeing! The tourist part of the park is located in Kampot province.
Kep, a small coastal town close to the Vietnamese border, was once a popular seaside resort. It’s pretty quiet in Kep today. One of the attractions is the huge crab statue in the sea because Kep is best known for its crab fishing and excellent seafood.
A well-known place for excursions is the nature reserve, which is located at a low altitude and therefore offers magnificent views of the surrounding area and the sea.
Cambodia is, in fact, a forgotten paradise, an unknown world.
