Cambodia is hot throughout the year, unlike other Southeast Asian nations, which occasionally have significantly cooler seasons. Because of this, the dry season, which lasts from November to January, is the appropriate time to explore Phnom Penh and Cambodia generally. Although temperatures won’t truly drop much during these months, the weather will be more acceptable due to a significant decrease in humidity. Here we will guide you to the Phnom Penh tourism site where you should learn more about Cambodia’s tourism and history.
Royal Palace
The complex’s buildings with spires roofs are a superb illustration of traditional Khmer design. Visitors are welcome to the well-kept grounds surrounding the Silver Pagoda and the Throne Hall area. In 1917, the Throne Hall was constructed to take the place of an older wooden structure. In addition, The 90-kilogram gold Buddha statue that is famously housed in the Silver Pagoda weighs 90 kilograms and is covered in thousands of jewels. Moreover, some exquisite artifacts are still present in the Silver Pagoda because it was spared the brutal devastation of the Khmer Rouge regime. The Reamker, a Cambodian epic poem based on the Ramayana of India, is depicted in the internal ceiling mural.
Wat Phnom
It is clear that Phnom Penh is flat. The 27-meter-high hillock where Wat Phnom’s temple is located is the only elevation in the surrounding terrain. It is believed that the first religious structure on this site was erected in the fourteenth century. It has been rebuilt numerous times, and the present primary temple sanctuary dates from 1926. One of the most significant Buddhist temples in the city, it is frequently busy with locals making offerings and giving prayers at the numerous shrines that circle the main sanctuary.
National Museum of Cambodia
The national collection is housed in a classic Cambodian structure that was constructed in 1920. Anyone with an interest in Cambodian history must visit the interior to view the stunning collection of ancient Khmer artistry, which includes more than 1,800 objects on exhibit. More than this, the Vishnu head discovered close to the enormous Angkor Wat temple complex, the incredible Angkorian collection, which includes statues from the temples of Koh Ker and Angkor Thom, and the sizable display of pre-Angkorian artifacts that trace Cambodia’s Funan and Chenla periods are the highlights of the museum galleries.
Phnom Penh’s Independence Monument
The Independence Monument in Phnom Penh is located in the grassy area where Sihanouk and Norodom Boulevards meet. It was erected in 1953 to commemorate Cambodia’s independence from French colonial control. The Angkorian-style temple-like sandstone building is elaborately Naga-decorated (multi-headed dragons). The monument is now a memorial to the war dead in Cambodia in addition to marking the nation’s freedom.
Tuol Sleng Museum
Some of the worst torture crimes committed by the Khmer Rouge were committed here, in Security Prison S-21. Between 1975 and 1978, more than 17,000 individuals who were allegedly betraying the revolution in some way passed through these gates. Nearly all of the prisoners brought here were once Khmer Rouge members who turned against the government during one of its numerous internal purges. The displayed photographic proof hanging on the walls of the sparse cells next to empty beds heightens the visceral nature of the viewing experience. Comrade Duch, the prison’s administrator, ran S-21 extremely efficiently and saw to it that thorough records were maintained. When the Vietnamese took over Phnom Penh in 1979, the prison was hurriedly abandoned. The thorough notes and pictures have been preserved.
Choeung Ek Killing Fields
The Khmer Rouge’s brutal government, which administered Cambodia between 1975 and early 1979 with the aim of transforming it into a socialist agrarian society, is tragically brought to mind by the Killing Fields of Choeung Ek. Between one and three million Cambodians are thought to have died under Pol Pot’s autocratic rule in less than four years. Famine and disease claimed many lives, but hundreds of thousands of Cambodians were also murdered, including intellectuals, educated individuals like teachers and doctors, government opponents, and anyone solely suspected of being a rival. It’s thought that 17,000 individuals passed away in Choeung Ek. The casualties here are from S-21, the high-security prison of the Khmer Rouge that is now the Tuol Sleng Museum.
Phnom Penh Riverside
The most well-liked promenade in Phnom Penh is Riverside, which is constantly crowded with walkers and joggers at sunset. It’s a fantastic location for observing and photographing vessels on the Tonle Sap River. It’s a popular place for just hanging out because there are cafes and street stalls selling food located along the path, especially in the early evening. Just west of the northern end of the quay, between visits to the Royal Palace and Wat Phnom, a stroll here is simple to fit into a sightseeing schedule.
