Phnom Kulen

Phnom Kulen

Guide    Location: About 15 km north of Banteay Srei.    Construction period: 11th–13th century.    Religion: Hinduism.    Highlights    Preah Ang Thom Temple: Located at the mountain’s summit, built from massive rocks, giving it a rugged, natural look. The temple houses a 9-meter-long reclining stone Buddha.

Preah Ang Thom Waterfall: Located near the village of Preah Ang Thom, it is one of Cambodia’s famous waterfalls, with religious carvings also found beneath the falls.    Introduction    Phnom Kulen stands over 480 meters above sea level and is one of the sacred mountains of the Khmer people. In 802 AD, King Jayavarman II was crowned here, declaring independence from Java and marking the birth of the modern Kingdom of Cambodia.    Originally named Mount Bakheng, the mountain was renamed Phnom Kulen (Lychee Mountain) after Chinese Yuan Dynasty envoy Zhou Daguan visited and scattered lychee seeds he had brought along. The seeds grew into a vast lychee orchard, hence the new name.    Transportation    It is about 40 km north of Siem Reap, roughly a one-hour drive. Hiking to the summit takes approximately 1–2 hours.

Cambodia’s Angkor Wat