"Phnom Penh - Capital City and Gateway to... " a Phnom Penh Travel Page by sunnywong

The Capital of Cambodia dates back to the year 1327. According to the legends a rich widow names Don Penh found a tree with 5 Buddha statues in it. The tree was washed to the shore of the Mekong River after a devastating flood. To thank Buddha for her survival she thus founded a pagoda that was later named after her, Wat Phnom Don Penh, on the top of a large mound in the center of the city. In 1866 Phnom Penh became the capital of Cambodia. The city is located right at the "crossing of the rivers" where the Mekong River and the Tonle Sap river meet each other and then separate again to go each their own way.

The city was formerly called "The Pearl of Asia" and although the many years of war has destroyed a lot of its previous splendor, one still gets a taste of the old ambiance. In Phnom Penh one can find many interesting buildings and temples (The Royal Palace, Wat Unnalom, Wat Langka, The National Museum) of traditional Cambodian Style, and several dozen "Grand residences" formerly housing the Colonial French administration.

The prime sight is the Royal palace with its silver pagoda rising from triple roofs with classic curled eaves. Although most of the palace is the king's residence and closed to the general public, the pagoda is open Thursdays and Sundays for visitors. Its floors are covered with 5 thousand silver tiles. It has a 200lb gold Buddha, an emerald Buddha and other treaures. Classical Cambodian dance is sometimes performed at Chan Chaya Pavilion on the grounds.

The National Museum, housed in a fine traditional building, contains works of art, sculpture and handicrafts from all great periods of Khymer civilization.

Rising above the city is Wat Phnom, on a hill (phnom) where a woman named Penh built a temple after finding four Buddha statues in a tree that washed up on a bank of the Mekong. Today the temple is popular with local residents who offer prayers for good business deals or successful examination results. (Phnom was said to have been very wealthy).

The Central Market, with its Art Deco design, is a lively place for people-watching and shopping. You can find old and silver jewelry, antique coins, fake Rolexes, household wares, flowers and food. There are other markets selling imported luxury items.

Koki Beach, west of Phnom Penh, is a weekend retreat on the banks of the Mekong. Families bring picnic lunches and it is possible, although possibly not advisable, to sample a local delicacy such as barbequed snake on a stick.

<font face="Bookman Old Style" size="4"><font color="#008000">Further Links:

<a href="http://www.pmgeiser.ch/cambodia/"><b><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:14">Link to useful website but a bit commercial </b></a>

<a href="http://www.canbypublications.com/phnompenh/ppintro.htm"><b><font face="Arial"><span style="font-size:14"> Phnom Penh Visitors Guide Website</b></a>