Cambodia tourism and travel guide
Overview
Cambodia – Khmer’s Land blending modern with the ancient
One of the southern states of Southeast Asia, Cambodia is geographically bordered by Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand. The capital of the country is Phnom Penh and has a monarchy with the King serving as the head of the state.
The Khmer Empire or the Angkor Empire ruled modern-day Cambodia from 9th century onwards and became Southeast Asia’s undaunted empire during the 12th century with capital at Angkor. The Empire fell from its glory in the 15th century. And then started the Dark Age for the country where the native tribal men and women used to be hunted down and made to work as slaves by the Thai or Siamese, Vietnamese and the Cambodian people. The 19th century witnessed various battles between Siam and Vietnam to seek control over Cambodia. It was only after the French entered the country and after a century of throning and de-throning of various Kings, that the state finally gained independence in 1953 during the reign of King Norodom Sihanouk. During the late 1960’s the region was targeted by heavy bombing by the Americans and it was only three decades later that through the Paris Comprehensive Peace Settlement that the United Nations intervened to enforce a ceasefire here.
The topography of Cambodia
The country majorly constitutes of low-lying plains enclosed by mountains, uplands, The Great Lake and the Mekong River Delta. The Mekong River flows through the eastern parts of the country. The region is covered with forested mountains and high altitude plateaus. The Kravanh Mountains and the Damrei Mountains lie between the Tonie Sap, a freshwater lake and the Gulf of Thailand.
Cambodia is a vibrant country with rich heritage, culture, and traditions and they believe in the celebration & festivals, Key festivals of the country are:-
1. The Bon Om Tuuk also called the Boat Racing Festival is held annually and as the name suggests is a boat rowing race. It is a national festival in the country. Accompanying the ritual is thanks-giving to the moon, bursting crackers, dining and attending the boat race.
2. The Festival of Dead also called Pchum Ben in the local language is an annual event where native Cambodians visit Pagodas or Stupas offering food and prayers to their dead relatives. It is celebrated for 15 days at a stretch.
Phnom Penh – starting from the Royal Palace, the National Museum to the saffron-clad monks, this city is located on the banks of the River Mekong. In the ancient era, this city was called as the Pearl of Asia but was destroyed by years of war. Today the capital city of Cambodia is completely westernized with cafe culture, top-notch dining options, and premium bars. The city still bears glimpses of the French colonial days.
Angkor – the capital during the Khmer rule, the place is filled with archaeological sites. More than 1000 ruined temples occupy the entire city. Though the government has restored some of the temples, must-see sites here include the Angkor Wat Temple, Ta Prohm, and the Bayon Temple.
Koh Ker is another temple town in Cambodia. The famous Prasat Thom, a temple 30 meter tall is one of the main attractions here.
Siam Reap is a major tourist hub. The town is covered with many premium and budget hotels and is one of the most visited places for different cuisines.
Sihanoukville is a beach town on the Gulf of Thailand. This is the place where the US fought the last battle during the Vietnam War.
Kratie is a tiny little town on the banks of the Mekong River. The town is filled with French colonial structures. The Irrawaddy Dolphins can be sighted here. There is a central market here which offers good shopping options to visitors.
Kampot is a chef’s paradise. The place is famous for black peppercorns and is also a gateway to the Bokor National Park. Boating and rafting are different activities to indulge in along with beautiful waterfalls and the famous Kampot Kompong Trach caves.
he Tonle Sap Lake is a freshwater body. It is surrounded by many floating villages and is the ideal place for bird watching and having glimpses of freshwater marine life.
Poipet is the border town between Cambodia and Thailand and it is filled with casinos and karaoke bars.
The Virachey National Park is for nature and wildlife lovers. Filled with bamboo bushes, waterfalls, mountains, fountains and timberlands, this place is marked with rich biodiversity.
Things to do:
a. The unique experience of watching Planktons Glow at the beaches of Koh Rong at night.
b. Watching the land of Temples from high up in the air by taking a micro-light flight above Cambodia.
c. Scuba dive to watch the great coral reefs and marine life at Koh Rong, Koh Koh, Koh Tang, and Koh Prins.
d. Kayaking over River Mekong and Tonle San River. And if you are looking for ocean kayaking, then try the same at one of the beach towns.
e. For the daring, a field visit to the adjoining areas of Phnom Penh to watch the place filled with skulls and skeletons of those who were killed by the Khmer Rouge is a must-do activity.
f. Biking along with the country – adventure enthusiasts can bike through paddy and rice fields and tracks in the jungles. The view that awaits tourists here is breathtaking with cascading waterfalls and dense forests.
g. Watching the sunrise at the temple complex of Angkor Wat.
h. Quad biking through the beautiful countryside, villages, temple ruins and paddy fields is another great activity to indulge in.
Religion: More than 95% of the inhabitants of Cambodia are followers of Theravada Buddhism. Other than that, for the Chinese and Vietnamese people staying here, Mahayana Buddhism is the religion. About 2% of the population follow Islam. Buddhist Cambodians are heavily influenced by Hindu customs especially ones related to Trantricism and spirits.
Culture: People from the rural areas usually wear a traditional Cambodian garment including a bandana or scarf over their head that is also used to cover the face. The traditional way of greeting is called the Sampeah, a derivative of the Indian style of Namaste
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