Phnom Penh

PHNOM PENH CAMBODIA

Phnom Penh is an old city of Cambodia, established in 1431 when Ancient Capital of Angkor was abandoned. According to a legend, Phnom Penh was erected at the confluence of Mekong and Tonle Sap River by Madam Don Penh who was a noble woman. She had found a flooded tree’s trunk which floated from Mekong River at her River bank. A hill was built up for installing the 4 Buddha statues which were found on the trunk. The temple which sheltered the statues on the top of the hill was called Wat Phnom Don Penh. Later on it was shortened and called Phnom Penh as Wat Phnom Don Penh was found to be too long. It is presently used as an official name for the capital of the kingdom of Cambodia.

The master plan and the old buildings were built during the French time (1863-1953). Industries, factories, stadium, markets, Royal palace are the remains after the destruction during the Khmer Rouge (1975-1979). The city was abandoned for almost 4 years, it was a ghost city. Fortunately, the city has been liberated from Khmer Rouge in 1979 and it gradually changed. The infrastructure, houses, official buildings, markets, shops, and factories were renovated and built to develop the city.

Phnom Penh is the most beautiful French colonial town in Indochina and a fast developing city in the world. Roads, public gardens, underground drains are mainly restored in this town. It serves as the administration center and the commercial center of the country.

New sister towns “Camco City” and “Koh Pich island City” and many other towns are under construction. Phnom Penh city is now a safe place for tourists. It is also a transit town for the other most attractive places of Cambodia, such as Angkor Wat temple at Siem Reap about 318 Km, Sihanouk Ville province with beaches for relaxing about 240 km and Ratanakiri where the ethnic Khmer live.