Phnom Penh, capital of Cambodia

Phnom Penh is the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia since 1866. Although the city itself grew on this site in the late 14th century. Modern Phnom Penh stands at the confluence of the small rivers Toplesap and Tonlebassak and the mighty Mekong.

We will start with the Royal Palace, where the current residence of the monarch is located, as well as state relics. The modern palace complex was built in 1866 during the French protectorate over Cambodia and is therefore a unique blend of traditional Khmer architecture with European details. Inside the throne room you can see the incredible painting of walls and ceilings, admire the beauty and elegance of the royal throne. In this hall, solemn ceremonies and receptions are held to this day.

The Silver Pagoda is a particularly important place for every Cambodian. There are many treasures of the Khmer Empire, including a large statue of the Buddha made of pure gold, inlaid with diamonds, as well as a smaller but older statue of the “emerald” Buddha, made of solid crystal. The floor of the pagoda is made of silver plates, each weighing 1 kg.

Next to the Silver Pagoda is an equestrian monument to Napoleon III, which later became a monument to King Norodom Suramarit (1896-1960) by replacing the head of one crowned person with the head of another.

Notable is a small elegant pavilion known as the Iron House. It was presented to the King of Cambodia by Napoleon III, and is a small building, all the details and decoration of which are made of iron.

Also on the territory of the Royal Palace there are pavilions with an exhibition of royal outfits, exhibits found on the site of the former capital of Cambodia - Udonga, men's and women's outfits for traditional Khmer dances, an exhibition of ancient manuscript books, a photo exhibition dedicated to King Norodom Sihanouk.

Wat Phnom Hill. Place of foundation of the capital.

In 1372, a venerable widow named Penh sat on the bank of a river and saw a log floating by, inside of which something shone. She fished out a log and found five golden Buddha figurines inside. She brought them home and set them on a small specially sprinkled hill. Soon, people from all over the area began to flock to look at the amazing find. Each one put his own handful of land on the hill. This is how the “Mrs Penh Hill” was formed, which is called Phnom Penh in Khmer. This hill is considered the base of the capital. At the top is a temple laid during the life of Mrs. Penh, which gave the name to this place Wat Phnom - "temple hill". Around the hill there is a garden and a huge clock.

Institute of Buddhism. A pagoda where a hair from the brow of the Buddha is kept.

The Institute of Buddhism is an active monastery of Wat Unalom, where monks live and study. At the Institute of Buddhism there is a unique library, which stores 40 thousand volumes and 16 thousand manuscripts on palm sheets. Near the main temple building there is a stupa, where a sacred relic for all Khmers is kept - a hair from the brow of the Buddha. Inside the stupa some special spiritual atmosphere and a visit to this small-looking stupa makes a special indelible impression. Here you can receive a blessing from the venerable monk.

Independence Monument

The Independence Monument commemorates Cambodia’s independence from a French protectorate in 1958. In addition, the stella represents a monument to the Khmers who died in wars. In the evening, the stele is illuminated with red, blue, white light - the colors of the national flag of Cambodia. On public holidays, the Independence Monument hosts performances and folk celebrations.

In addition:

National Museum

The National Museum is located next to the Royal Palace and the University of Fine Arts. The museum was built between 1917 and 1920 by the French and is the leading museum of Cambodian history and art. There are more than 5,000 exhibits, most of which belong to the Angkor period. The most valuable exhibits are the statue of the leper king from Angkor Wat, the statue of Vishnu, part of the original pediment from the Bantei Srei Temple. The museum contains many documents on the history of Cambodia, a collection of Buddha statues of the post-Angkor period, ceramic dishes and everyday objects of the kings of Cambodia, national clothes.

Toul Sleng Genocide Museum (S-21)

The museum is housed in the building of the school, which from 1975 to 1979 became one of the main prisons of the Khmer Rouge regime. About 17,000 prisoners passed through her torture chambers. Only 7 people were released from prison when Phnom Penh was liberated from the Khmer Rouge. After torture and interrogations, accompanied by careful documentation, prisoners were transported to the "Fields of Death" to enforce the sentence. About a hundred people died every day in prison. After the liberation of the capital from the Khmer Rouge, the prison was abandoned. There are traces of blood on the walls and floors, and the walls are covered with photographs of Khmer Rouge prisoners.

Death Field Memorial

The death fields are located 30 minutes from the city center. The memorial complex to the victims of the repressions of the Pol Pot regime is located on the very site where the executions of opponents of the Khmer Rouge regime took place between 1975 and 1979. About 17,000 people were killed here, most of whom were tortured in S-21 prison. There are 120 mass graves in the complex. There is an exhibition on the territory that tells about the Khmer Rouge regime, their methods of torture and execution, photos of the victims of the regime. In 1988, a glass stupa was built on the territory of the complex, inside which the skulls of the dead are stored.

• Duration of the excursion from 7.30 to 17.00
• Cost of transportation - $40
• Entrance tickets - $19 c person + guide ticket
• Work guide - $180
• Attention! Prices are per group of up to 8 people. For large groups, prices on request.