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Phnom Penh Overview

The Phnom Penh Overview is needed by all those who are interested to travel to this place. It is a part of the Phnom Penh Travel Guide and it includes all the important points like the etymology, major attractions, the climate, geography, history, and the transport of the area. Phnom Penh is the capital of Cambodia and it is one of the most populous ones.

Etymology

This is an interesting point in the Phnom Penh Overview as it traces how the place got its present name. The city is named after the Wat Phnom Daun Penh. This temple was built in 1373 with five statues of the Buddha. Phnom Penh was also previously known as Krong Chaktomuk or the ';City of Four Faces';.

Geography and climate of Phnom Penh

This is a very important part of the Overview of Phnom Penh as you need to know the weather conditions of the place that you have chosen for your vacation. The climate is hot through out the year with very little variation. November to January is cool and it is hottest from February to May.

Attractions of Phnom Penh

The Overview of Phnom Penh Cambodia would be incomplete without the attractions of the place. The must visit points are Phsar Thom Thmei, the Royal Palace, the Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Monument, Genocide Museum, the National Museum, the Silver Pagoda, Independence Monument, the Tuol Sleng and Wat Phnom.

Transport of Phnom Penh

This is also a major component of the Phnom Penh Overview. The Phnom Penh International Airport is just at a short distance of 7 kilometers from the city center and it handles both the commercial and the passenger traffic. There is also the Siem Reap-Angkor International Airport but this serves primarily the tourists of Angkor Vat. Traveling by train is cheap but the services are slow. The cheap and the comfortable buses are available and these are taking the place of the pick-ups, Taxis and minibuses.

sightseeing in Phnom Penh

The spots innumerable and the sights amazingly beautiful- this is the best away that you can describe Sightseeing in Phnom Penh. You will really enjoy these places as places tell you about the history and also the culture of the fascinating land of Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Sightseeing in Phnom Penh includes the following very important places that you should make it a point to visit.

Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh

The Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh was built in the year 1372 and it was decorated with all types of artifacts. There is an altar for the Lady Penh and this is placed between the Vihear and the stupa. The residents of this place consider the Lady Penh to be a spirit that protects all of them from harm.

Royal Palace in Phnom Penh

The Royal Palace of Phnom Penh in the Khmer language is known as the Preah Barom Reachea Vaeng Chaktomuk. It was occupied by the Kings of the land of Cambodia but they left the palace when there internal problems during and after the rule of the Khmer Rouge. It contains the Throne Hall, The Silver Pagoda, Khemarin Palace and also the Chan Chhaya Pavilion. This is a must visit point while you are going for Sightseeing of Phnom Penh.

Independence Monument in Phnom Penh

This was erected to commemorate those martyrs who had fought for the independence of Cambodia. This is a spot where one can come and enjoy the solitude of the place and also participate in the celebrations that take place during Independence Day. This is a good spot that you should visit when you are going for Sightseeing in and around Phnom Penh.

Cheung Ek Killing Field in Phnom Penh

Another very important aspect of Phnom Penh Sightseeing is the Cheung Ek Killing Field in Phnom Penh. It is at a distance of 15 kilometers from Phnom Penh and this is important because 17,000 people were massacred and buried here. This place is often considered to be unsuitable for children.

Museums in Phnom Penh

Museums in Phnom Penh have always been popular tourist draws for all those coming to visit the city.

Museums in Phnom Penh cover the most controversial phases in history of Cambodia as they are the archives of the past containing those important articles which have very important links to the past. The three main museums are as follows:

National Museum in Phnom Penh

The Museums in Phnom Penh rank very high among the Phnom Penh Tourist Attractions and one should make it a point to visit all of them. National Museum is a particularly important museum. The museum is located very close to the Royal Palace. The National Museum is regarded as one of the best and probably the pioneer among all the historical and archeological museums. The museum is really popular as it happens to house some of the finest and rarest collections of the typically beautiful Khmer Art. The museum is actually a commemoration of the Khmer regime in Cambodia. The museum is really popular for the fine sense of architecture which seems to bear strong resemblances to the Khmer and French style of architecture.

Tuol Sleng Museum in Phnom Penh

The Tuol Sleng Museum is also known as the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum. The museum was at first a high school and later transformed in to the prison during the Vietnamese war. The Tuol Sleng Museum is noted for the history attached to it. The prison had prisoners from all over the world captivated and kept as hostages under the accusation and charge of treason. The museum has become a special tourist destination as it reminds them of the horrific past of Cambodia.

Cheoung Ek Museum, Phnom Penh

Cheoung Ek Museum in Phnom Penh can also be regarded as one of the most important Museums at Phnom Penh. The museum is found on the famous Killing Fields in Cambodia and is regarded as one of the best Museums in Phnom Penh Cambodia. The museum consists of 5,000 skulls and human remains. The museum hosts almost 9,000 bodies and the point of attraction remains the stupa where the bones and skulls are kept for display. Phnom Penh Museums gives the tourists an opportunity to tour into the fascinating history of Cambodia.

Festivals and Events in Phnom Penh

The festivals and events in Phnom Penh are an exciting conglomeration of the most ancient rituals of the region as well as the latest cultural attractions. This fascinating mix of the current and the contemporary makes the festivals and events of Phnom Penh a big draw among travelers visiting this exotic city from all over the world! So, here%26#39;s a look at some of the top events and festivals that are an important part of the Phnom Penh Tourist Attractions:

Bonn Chroat Preah Nongkoal in Phnom Penh

Held in May every year, the highlight of this traditional festival is the Royal Rice Ploughing Ceremony. The first of the agrarian festivals, it heralds the beginning of the ploughing season. Marked by symbolic overtones, this is one of the most popular of the festivals and events at Phnom Penh.

Water Festival on the Banks of the Mekong in Phnom Penh

One of the most ancient of the festivals and events in Phnom Penh, this is an annual celebration of the rivers of the city! Also called Bon Om Tuk, meaning Festival of the Reversing Current, the festival marks the beginning of the fishing season. Complete with an exciting cross nation boat race and fire works, this November festival always features at the top of every Phnom Penh Travel Guide!

Visual Arts Open in Phnom Penh

An exciting arts festival celebrating the works of the finest present day artists of Cambodia, this is one of the latest of the festivals and events at Phnom Penh in Cambodia. It is a December festival and promises to introduce the world to the best of contemporary Cambodian art.

Entry to these spectacular festivals is FREE for all! So, for an experience of a life time, why not be a part of the exciting festivals and events in Phnom Penh, this year?

How to Get in

The uniqueness of Phnom Penh, the capital city of Cambodia is a traveler%26#39;s paradise with traditional Khmer and French architectural patterns. Phnom Penh, fondly called the %26#39;pearl city of Asia%26#39; is the cultural, political, economic and tourism hub of Cambodia. Travelers faced no difficulty in how to get there to Phnom Penh.

By air:

Most of the easiest and convenient way especially for foreigners to reached capital city is through air. Most of the flights to the country passed through the airport of Phnom Penh. Many international as well as regional airlines operate daily fight service to the city.

By Bus:

One can reached city by bus also as there are bus services that operates between Phnom Penh and Poipet, a border city of Thailand and from Ho Chi Minh City (Vietnam).

By ferry:

Getting to Phnom Penh by ferry is another option of getting there. Though the way is little time consuming

Useful Information

Phnom Penh is the fantastic capital city of Cambodia. The city is really popular and attracts tourists from all over the world as it boasts of numerous tourist attractions and museums. It is advisable to keep all useful information about Phnom Penh so that you can enjoy your trip to the best.

The best time to visit Phnom Penh is during the cooler months of the winter season. It is during the months of November, December, January and February when tourists can escape the excruciating hot climate and can enjoy their trip.

For health and safety in Phnom Penh the tourist must follow certain rules

any major problems one should contact his/her respective embassy, important aspect of Phnom Penh health and safety is that one should be beware of drugs, as anyone caught using drugs may have to face a lengthy jail sentence.

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A few complementary notes:

Phnom Penh is a crazy city, with (in my opinion) a wonderful street ambiance. Rent a bike to wander around (make sure you wear an helmet). Visit the ';real'; markets (O%26#39;Russey, Olympic Stadium, Old Market...). Enjoy the blooming cultural life (check out http://ladypenh.com, a website about events in Phnom Penh). Visit the surroundings (Kirirom, Oudong, the Silk Island, Phnom Chisor and its temple...) for one-days trips (by moto or tuk-tuk).

Enjoy!