10 Best Tourist Attractions in Cambodia

 

Cambodia, is a country located in the southeast Asia. What are the famous tourist attractions in Cambodia? There are solemn temples, mysterious millennium smiles and characteristic floating villages. Attractions such as Angkor Wat, Queen's Palace, Tonlé Sap Lake and Phnom Penh Palace are all must-see Cambodian tourist attractions. Most of these Cambodian attractions are in Siem Reap or Phnom Penh. If you don’t know where to go in Cambodia for the first time visit, here recommend you 10 tourist attraction in Cambodia.

 

1、Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat is located in the northwest of Cambodia and is the best preserved temple in Angkor's monuments. Known for its grandeur and relief, Angkor Wat is one of the largest and most magnificent temples in the world. It is displayed on the Cambodian flag and is a symbol of the Cambodian.

In 1992, the United Nations listed the Angkor monuments as a world cultural heritage. Visitors from all over the world to Angkor Wat continue to increase, from less than 10,000 in 1993 to 2 million in 2007. It has became one of the most famous tourist attractions in Cambodia.

 

2、Banteay Srei

Banteay Srei is another sacred place for you to visit in Cambodia. It is one of the most unique and exquisite buildings in Angkor's monuments. It is famous for its gorgeous colors and exquisite reliefs, and is known as the “Gem of Angkor Art”. Banteay Srei means "woman's castle", which is supposed to be constructed and carved by women.

The embossed knife is smooth and delicate, the shape is complex and round, the lines are slim and soft, the color is bright and charming, and it is second to none in all Angkor reliefs. It is known as "Angkor Art Diamond". It is famous for its bright colors and exquisite reliefs. Although it is small in scale, Banteay Srei is one of the most unique and exquisite buildings in Angkor's monuments.

Note:

Due to the high reputation of the Banteay Srei, it is a must-see attraction for the “outer day tour of Angkor Wat”. There are many tourists every day, especially in the morning.

Location: About 40 kilometers away from northeast of Siem Reap. Construction age: the second half of the 10th century. Religion: Hinduism.

 

3、Bayon Temple

The most famous of the Bayon Temple is its four-faced Buddha and sand sculpture. The famous Khmer smile is located on the top floor of the Bayon Temple. There are 54 pagodas, each with four faces, each with a different expression, a total of 216 different Khmer smiles.

The porch murals of the Bayon Temple are also very rich, and the 1,200-meter-long bas-relief gallery has an amazing depiction of 11,000 objects. The inner cloisters are mainly myths and religious stories, while the outer cloisters are based on real life. From the battlefield to the production and labor, there are all kinds of life scenes. Such secularized sculpture themes are very rare in the Angkor buildings.

Note:

It is recommended to go earlier, because the air is good early, the light is good, the heat is not hot, and the mood will be better.

Location: In the center of Angkor Thom. Construction age: the end of the 12th century. Religion: Buddhism.

 

4、Ta Prohm Temple

Ta Prohm Temple, known as the “mother temple”, was built by one of the Khmer kings to worship his mother. The Ta Prohm Temple looks like a sleeping beauty castle, completely engulfed by the jungle.

Note:

1) Relive the movie "Tomb Raider" and "In the Mood for Love" before departure.

2) Even at noon, it is recommended to bring a flashlight and a compass.

3) Find a child as a guide, he can take you around the corner.

Location: southeast of Angkor Thom, Construction age: 12-13th century. Religion: Buddhism.

 

5、Tonlé Sap Lake

Tonlé Sap Lake means “a huge freshwater lake” . The French call it the great lake. It is located in the southeastern part of the Indo-China Peninsula, west of Cambodia, and is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia.

The Tonlé Sap Lake is connected to the Mekong River and is the natural reservoir of the Mekong River. With the alternating changes in the dry and rainy seasons in Cambodia, the depth and area of the lake will change suddenly: during the dry season (December-April), the water level of the Mekong River will decrease. During the rainy season, the Mekong River will skyrocket and the water level will rise sharply.

One of the most interesting is the huge village of Kompong Luong, which is close to the town of Pursat on the west bank of Tonlé Sap, while the most popular village Chong Kneas is near Siem Reap.

Recommended reason: Southeast Asia's largest freshwater lake

Location: Siem Reap

 

6、Phnom Bakheng Temple

The Phnom Bakheng Temple was built on the top of Phnom Bakheng Mountain, reflecting the worship of the Khmer people at that time. This building symbolizes the entire universe, and is designed with symbols: 7-story platform: representing the 7 heavens and the uppermost tower representing the center of the universe.

In addition to the central tower, there are 108 small towers on the lower 6 floors, representing 108 days of 4 phases of moon. Looking at the Phnom Bakheng Temple from the central axis of each side, only 33 towers can be seen, representing 33 gods on Mount Sumi.

Note:

1) As it is one of the great places to watch the sunrise and sunset, every day around the evening will be crowded with tourists and hawkers, and it is just like a park.

2) After 4 pm, if you buy tickets for three days or seven days, you can enter the scenic spot (no extra charge). Most people choose to go to Phnom Bakheng Mountain to watch the sunset.

Location: West side of the south gate of Angkor Thom. Construction age: 9-10th century. Religion: Hinduism.

 

7、The Royal Palace

Royal Palace is one of the popular tourist attractions that you need  to visit in Phnom Penh. The Royal Palace of Phnom Penh, also known as the Four Arms Grand Palace, is located in the heart of Phnom Penh. It was built by King Norodom Sihanouk in 1866-1870. It was designed by the top architects of Cambodia and is the royal palace of the King of Cambodia.

The palace's architecture has traditional Khmer architecture and religious colors. The palace has spires that represent prosperity. The temple is painted in yellow and white. Yellow represents Buddhism and white represents Brahmanism. The palace was originally made of wood and later converted into a cement structure, but it maintained its original appearance. The murals around the cloister of the Royal Palace are meticulously painted Indian myths by 40 artists.

Location: Sothearos Bvld, Phnom Penh. 

 

8、Koh Rong Island (Sihanoukville)

Koh Rong Island is the second largest island in Cambodia, located in the Gulf of Thailand, which is in the southwest of Sihanoukville. The island has been isolated for decades, allowing the pristine natural environment to be optimally preserved.

Koh Rong Island has a wealth of natural attractions, including coral reefs, tropical palm forests, rainforests, waterfalls, sparkling blue waters and 28 pure white sand beaches. One of the 6km stretches of beaches is the most spectacular in the region. Many European and American reality shows have been filmed here, which is a good holiday choice for many Westerners.

 

9、Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum

The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is a museum in the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, formerly named the S-21 concentration camp. Between 1975 and 1979, it was used as a location by the Cambodian 0 (Khmer Rouge) regime, so it is also named "Tuol Sleng", meaning "poisonous highlands."

In 1979, the concentration camp was exposed in the attack of Vietnamese soldiers. In 1980, the concentration camp was reopened to the public, with an average of about 500 visits per day. In 2009, the museum was included in the “Memory of the World” by UNESCO.

Recommended reason: The most heinous museum in Phnom Penh

Location: Phnom Penh

 

10、Cambodia Landmine Museum

The Cambodian Landmine Museum is located in Siem Reap Province and is said to have been built by a local mine-clearing expert, Aki Ra, in 1997 to tell people about the history of mines. The mines that he has arranged are said to have more than 50,000 mines. He raised funds to open the mine museum, hoping that more people will understand the dangers of war and landmines.

Although the museum is not very large, it is impressive, allowing people to understand the complex processes of mine clearance and the enormous damage caused by mines. In addition to the mines, the museum also exhibits helmets, mortars, and various weapons during the civil war, which win the hearts of tourists.

Recommended reason: The most tearful museum in Cambodia

Location: Siem Reap

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