Siem Reap Vistior Guide 59th

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B attambang is a charmingly quaint provincial capital - classic architecture and old pagodas set picturesquely along a river, and even though the city is one of the coun- try's largest it is still lightly touristed. In town, colonial-era buildings line narrow lanes, including the ‘walking district’ near the market where art galleries, cafes, shops and bars inhabit old shophouses. Battambang is a place to explore the architecture and art scene, check out the local cuisine, and to use as a base for excursions into the nearby country- side. Outside town the scenery quickly becomes one of villages and rice paddies, offering an excellent opportunity to see a bit of rural Cambodia. The nearby countryside harbors several picturesque old pagodas, Angkorian ruins, caves, mountains, waterfalls and the famous ‘bamboo train.’