Phnom Penh is located in the South of Cambodia. With an area of 290 km2 and a population of about 1.5 million, it is currently the largest city of Cambodia. The city has a tropical climate with two seasons: the rainy season (May to October) and the dry one (November to April).
Situated at the confluence of three rivers named the Mekong, Bassac and the great Tonle Sap; Phnom Penh has its former name "Krong Chaktomuk" which means "City of Four Faces" because the 3 above rivers form an "X" where the capital is located.
Under the French governance, Phnom Penh was known as the "Pearl of Southeast Asia" because of various large architectures built by the French. That is why it became the most important city of the Mekong basin since that period. It, however, was partially destroyed by the Red Khmer.
Royal Palace
Royal Palace is a major tourist site in Phnom Penh, which also include the impressive Silver Pagoda and Temple of Emerald Buddha. These buildings were built in 1866 by the French with inspirations from Khmer sculpture. The palace boasts gorgeous roofs and facades of royal yellow.
Silver Pagoda
Silver Pagoda or Wat Preah Keo houses many national treasures, including gold and emerald Buddha statues. It is also famous with 5329 silver tiles inlaid.
Wat Phnom
At top a 27 meter hill, Wat Phnom is the symbol of the city. You will see numerous Buddha statues, mural paintings and a sacred stupa housing the ashes of King Ponhea Yat, who chose Phnom Penh as the capital in 143.
Tuol Sleng Museum
Visiting the Tuol Sleng Museum of Genocidal Crime is a shocking experience for visitors. From April 1975 until January 1979 under the Pol Pot regime, this was the most terrifying prison of the Khmer Rouge of Cambodia. Of the 17,000 people imprisoned here, only seven survived!
Oudong
Oudong (or Udong) is located on the west bank of the Tonle Sap, about 40 kilometers to the north of Phnom Penh. This place is important to the Cambodian. It was the capital of the country in the seventeenth century, and then from 1740 to 1746…
Ta San mosque
Ta San mosque was built on a small hill. The hill is shaped like a naga, the mythical benevolent serpent. Its stupas was said to house the remains of past monarchs, including King Monivong and King Ang Duong.
Phnom Preah Reach Throap
On the other hill named Phnom Preah Reach Throap (literally "Hill of the Royal Fortune"), tourists can visit the statues of Buddha, royal tombs and the memorial to the victims of the Pol Pot at the base of the ridge.