The Phnom Penh Visitors Guide 62nd

Day Trips

Oudong Route 5, 1 hour west of the city The abandoned royal city of Oudong sits amongst the hills west of Phnom Penh. Oudong was the capital city of Cambodia from the 17th century until 1866 when the capital was moved to Phnom Penh. The remnants of the old Oudong include several active temples,

Tonle Bati / Ta Prohm Off Route #2, 1 hour south of Phnom Penh Tonle Bati is a small lake and popular picnic spot - bamboo picnic stands and mats by the water. On the road to Tonle Bati there are two Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm and Yeay Peau. Both temples were built under Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century during the same period Phnom Da and Angkor Borei Takeo Province, 2-hours south of Phnom Penh Angkor Borei is a small town in the area of several ruins and archaeological digs. The area has been continuously inhabited for at least 2500 years and has yielded artifacts dating from the Neolithic period, the Funan period (4th/5th

stupas and other structures covering three hills. The walk up the main hill provides an excellent countryside view. The hill is crowned with stupas containing the remains of several Cambodian kings including King Monivong (1927-1941) and King Ang Duong (1845-1859). The earliest structure is from the 13th century.

that Bayon in Siem Reap. Ta Prohm is the more extensive and impressive of the two, displaying a number of very well-preserved carvings. Yeay Peau is a single sandstone tower situated next to an active pagoda. The area has been occupied since the pre-Angkorian Funan period.

Phnom Chisor Takeo Province, off Rte 2, 2 hours south of Phnom Penh At the top of Phnom Chisor sit some very nicely preserved 10th/11thcenturyADAngkorianera ruins. The temple was constructed under King Suryavarman I during a period when the Angkorian-era

Khmer Empire was nearing its apex. As most Angkorian temples of the period, this temple is Hindu, dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. The 503 steps to the temple on top of the hill make for a fairly rigorous climb but the quality of the ruins and the amazing view of the countryside make the effort well worth it. Prasat Neang Khmau

century AD) and Chenla (8th century AD) as well as the later Angkorian period (9th-15th century AD.) There are no significant temple ruins at Angkor Borei but there is a very interesting little museum displaying artifacts from the area and providing information on recent archaeological digs. The hill, Phnom Da, sits about 20km from Angkor Borei and is crowned by an impressive 11th century Angkorian- era prasat (tower) displaying some carvings in pretty good condition. The temple was constructed under King Rudravarman and dedicated to Shiva. Further down the hill is the unique little temple ruin Ashram Maha Rosei, quite unlike other Khmer monuments in both design and adornment. Constructed in the late 7th-early 8th century, during the pre-Angkorian Chenla period, under King Bahavavarman. The temple shows signs of non-Khmer influence and has unusual

Takeo Province, off Rte 2, 1.5 hours south of Phnom Penh Standing next to an active pagoda, consisting of two deteriorating brick prasats built in the 10th century A.D. under King Jayavarman IV. There was probably at least one more ancient prasat where the modern pagoda

now sits. Originally dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The temple complex is named after Neang Khmau, ‘Black Lady,’ a modern statue located in front of the temples.

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