Phnom Penh – the antique capital travel guide
Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia, is well-known for its ancient architecture mix style between Khmer and French. All the classical buildings, age-old streets, and timeworn historical sites help demonstrate the harmony of the city. The hospitality of Cambodian people in this city is also a highlight that worths to write the name “Phnom Penh” down to your travel bucket list. Let’s discover Phnom Penh – the ancient city of Cambodia with AA Vietnam Travel today!
The historical origin of Phnom Penh
In the past, Phnom Penh used to be called “Krong Chaktomuk,” which means “the city of four faces” in the Khmer language. Ancient Khmer people thought this holy land was impregnable as it had four rivers that gave prosperity for Kampuja (Cambodia) kingdom. It was also a symbol of God Indra. Phnom Penh became the capital for Khmer people since the 14th century, from 1432 to 1505. Later then, it was abandoned for 360 years until King Nodorom I chose Phnom Penh to be the permanent seat of the government since 1866.
Phnom Penh, the antique capital of Cambodia, is well-known for its ancient majestic architecture mix style between Khmer and French.
Phnom Penh is an ancient city with a lot of classical French-style architecture, as it used to be the French colonist. However, the city also has a lot of Buddist-style buildings as Buddism is the main religion in Cambodia, as well as Phnom Penh. Nowadays, it is a metropolitan city with a lot of historical sites. It worths giving a try to visit and wander around this city.
How to travel to and around Phnom Penh
As a capital city, Phnom Penh has its international airport. It is convenient to hop on any flight and land at the Phnom Penh International Airport, which is 10 kilometers away from the city center. From the airport, you can travel to the city center by taxi at an affordable cost. With a six-mile destination, it will cost around 10 USD.
In the city, you can travel by tuk-tuk to experience an impressive local vehicle in Cambodia. Otherwise, hiring a private driver is also a good idea if you go in a big group or you need a local tour guide to help with driving and sightseeing. The cost is around 32 USD per day; they can drive you to wherever you plan to visit and wait for you between stops.
When to go to Phnom Penh
The recommended months to travel to Phnom Penh is between November and February when the weather is warm and less humid. The average temperature will be around 20°C, a little bit of rainfall may happen in the afternoon. On the other hand, traveling to Phnom Penh from May to October is not suggested as the weather condition is not good enough for sightseeing and outdoor activities. The humidity is incredibly high that can make you feel uncomfortable during your trip.
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Top destinations in Phnom Penh
Royal Palace
Royal Palace is a complex of buildings for the royal residence of Cambodian kings. In the 19th century, when King Norodom I relocated the capital from Oudong back to Phnom Penh after 360 years, they built the Royal Palace. The buildings are a beautiful masterpiece of Khmer people and a tourist attraction in many years. Travelers can only visit inside a few buildings, while some of them are restricted due to conservation purposes. During your trip, you can find interesting information about the royal family, temples, and the courtyard. Do not forget to visit the Throne Hall, which is the venue of many critical national ceremonies and coronations.
As the Royal Palace is an honorable and impregnable place of King Sihamoni, visitors must wear appropriate outfits when they come inside the Throne Hall and other buildings. The entrance fee is 10 USD, which is not as expensive as other palaces in the Indochina area.
Silver Pagoda
Royal Palace has one of the most famous architectural masterpieces, which is the Silver Pagoda. It is a great pride of Cambodia people of approximately 5000 silver floor tiles, 1600 metal objects, a baccarat crystal Buddha statue and other masterful statues locating around the hallway. While the staircase leading to the pagoda was made by Italian marble, the wall surrounding Silver Pagoda is full of religious murals drawn by Cambodian artists in the 20th century.
Wat Phnom
Wat Phnom is another well-known Buddist temple in Phnom Penh. It was built in the 14th century. The sanctuary interior has a central altar complex with a large bronze seated Buddha statue surrounded by other sculptures, flowers, candles, and items of worship and devotion. Its walls are full of murals, especially the Jarkata story about Buddha’s reincarnations before his enlightenment. The main stupa of Wat Phnom stands 27 meters above the ground, which is nominated as the tallest religious structure of the city. Wat Phnom stays in the center of Phnom Penh, so it is easy to reach here by any vehicle.
National Museum of Cambodia
The National Museum is another worth-visiting destination in Phnom Penh. It was built in 1917 in a delicate terracotta structure of the traditional design. The museum has thousands of artifacts and pieces of art from all over Cambodia, which demonstrate the most exceptional talent of Khmer sculpture and Khmer artists. There are a few highlight masterpieces in the museum. For example, the Angkor is a masterful statue collection of Shiva God from the 9th to the 11th century, the life of Shiva stele in the 12th century, and the grand statue of a seated Jayavarman VII. There are English, French, and Japanese speaking guides available for each museum tour at 6 USD. Therefore, you can fully enjoy and understand Khmer sculpture art.
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum
If you are interested in learning about Khmer Rouge history, this is a chance. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is 45 minutes away from the city. It was Tuol Svay Prey High School in the area before Pol Pot forces turned it to a torture center from 1975. Visitors can see war evidence around the area with timeworn suburban settings, prison cells, and all photos they have left during the depressing period from 1975 to 1997. Especially, Choeung Ek was a mass-killing field of Pol Pot’s security forces, and it preserves the evidence of Khmer Rouge for exhibition nowadays. There are documentaries about Khmer Rouge shown daily at 9.30 am and 3.45 pm. The entrance fee for the Choeung Ek is 6 USD, and the museum is 8 USD.
Central Market
The Central Market, as known as Phsa Thmei, is another highlight of the city. The market was built in 1935 and activated since 1937. Its building is in the cross-shaped with a beautiful central dome. Phsa Thmei also has four wings which shops trade gold and silver jewelry, ancient coins, watches, and other fashion items. Apart from its unique building structure, the Central Market is a great place to buy souvenirs for your family and friends. Phsa Thmei is always famous for its bustling bazaar atmosphere, with a lot of eye-catching products in stock. Jewelry in this market is at affordable prices with different sizes and designs. Visitors can reach the Central Market easily by tuk-tuk, taxi, or on foot.
The Central Market with a beautiful building structure
Phnom Penh Night Market
Phnom Penh Night Market, as known as Phsar Reatrey, is located near the riverside of northern Phnom Penh. While the Central Market mainly offers jewelry, the Night Market shops primarily sell clothes and street food. Visiting Phsar Reatrey at night time is a delightful activity that you should try. It is an opportunity for you to enjoy the unique Cambodian street cuisine, some live local pop performance or even cutesy choreographed dance. You can also dress in Asian-style fashion at affordable prices and easily find suitable outfits for the tropical weather in Cambodia.
Independent Monument
The Independent Monument is another highlight architecture building of Phnom Penh. The 37-feet-tall monument built from 1958 was to memorize Cambodia’s independence from the French army since 1953. It is located at the intersection of Norodom Boulevard and Sihanouk Boulevard in the heart of the city. The Independent Monument was designed in the form of a lotus-shaped stupa by Vann Molyvann, a Cambodian architect. In special occasions and national celebrations, people always light the ceremonial flame on the Independent Monument. It still gets a lot of attention from either the local or the visitor during those days.