Phnom Penh & Around
Welcome to the
Pearl of Asia
Phnom Penh is a graceful capital that was once known as the ‘Pearl of Asia’. It is a timeless throwback to an older Asia, a world away from the developing metropolises of nearby neighbours. Situated at the confluence of the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap Rivers, the city retains much traditional and colonial charm. The riverfront area remains one of the most attractive in the region, home to the Royal Palace, and is perfect for a late-afternoon stroll along “Walk Street”.
Highlights of Phnom Penh
-
Home to the Royal Family and the priceless Emerald Buddha, this is a beautiful complex in the heart of the capital. The Silver Pagoda is floored with 5kg tiles of pure silver a the courtyard is richly decorated with murals depicting the Reamker (Ramayana).
-
When the Khmer Rouge came to power in 1975 they converted a former high school into a detention and torture centre known as Tuol Sleng, or S-21. A genocide museum was established at Tuol Sleng after 1979 and today it remains much as it looked when abandoned by the Khmer Rouge.
-
Home to a diverse selection of Cambodian wildlife that has been rescued from poachers, snares and the wildlife trade. Home to the largest population of captive sun bears in the world, as well as elephants, tigers, gibbons and a vast aviary.
-
An elegant city landmark housed in a terracotta-roofed structure of traditional Cambodian design, the National Museum offers a charming setting for the world’s finest collection of sculpture from the Angkor period.
-
The iconic Central Market is known as Psar Thmei in Khmer or New Market. The huge dome is wonderfully ventilated, a testament to the design, and this market is loaded with anything and everything available in Cambodia.
-
Famous for its buzzing nightlife, Phnom Penh is home to Bassac Lane and Langka Lane, two lively little backstreets that are thronging with bars, restaurants and clubs. Dine on Langka Lane and party on to the early hours in Bassac Lane.
-
Phnom Penh is situated at the confluence of the Mekong River, Tonle Sap River and the Bassac River, the four faces or ‘Chaktomuk’ as it is known in Khmer. Take a sunset boat cruise on the river to see the Cambodian capital from another angle.
-
The first pagoda in Phnom Penh was originally built in 1373 to house Buddha statues discovered in the Mekong by a woman named Penh. This gives us the modern name of the city, Phnom Penh or Hill of Penh. Cambodians come to the shrine to pray for luck in love and life.
-
Experience a Koh Dach moment with a mountain bike ride around this idyllic island that lies just a few kilometres north of the capital. Famous for silk weaving, hence the name, it is also home to dry season Mekong ‘beaches’ where Cambodians gather to picnic and swim.