Phnom Penh is the largest city and capital of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh is an old French colonial town.
Known as the Paris of the Far East in the 1870s before World War II, the city began to get rid of the traces of its violent days in the recent history and became valuable in terms of tourism with its historical architecture.
When did Phnom Penh Become the Capital?
The city was named after the story of a nun named Penh. One day, a nun named Penh finds a Kokia tree and 4 bronze and a stone Buddha statue in the Mekong River. The nun carries these stones to her home in the northeast of the river and sews 5 Buddha statues with the bronze and stones she found there. These statues were later used as a temple and commemorated among the people. These 27-meter-long temples were called Wat Phnom Daun Penh at that time, while the name has reached the present day as Phnom Penh and gave the city its name.
From 1432 onwards, the city, where the centuries-old kings claimed and fought for centuries, gained the status of the official capital of Cambodia with the Norodom of Cambodia in 1866, and the city’s famous palace was built for the administration.
Phnom Penh became a French colony in the 1870s, and at that time France brought many hotels, schools, prisons, post offices, banks, palaces of justice and established the entire infrastructure system, bringing the city closer to metropolitanization.
Features of Phnom Penh
According to 2012 data, Phnom Penh has a population of 1.50 million. Phnom Penh has a surface area of 290 square kilometers. Phnom Penh has a tropical wet and dry climate. The climate continues at the same temperatures throughout the year with only minor changes. Temperatures typically range from 22 to 35 ° C and the weather is subject to tropical monsoons.
Phnom Penh is located in the south of Cambodia and is located in the region of Tonle Sap, Mekong and Bassac Rivers. These rivers are also the natural resources of the city. The city, consisting of plains by the river, may face floods in extreme rainy periods.
One of the features of Phnom Penh is the Tuk-Tuks, which are used in city transportation. These outdoor taxis are a motor vehicle for 2-4 people. There are buses, river ferries, regular taxis and a train network.
Important Places to See in Phnom Penh
With its cathedrals, historical buildings and architecture, Phnom Penh is a city that has risen recently and is certainly a city that welcomes tourists. Phnom Penh has a wide range of attractions, from its markets, entertainment centers, rivers and natural beauties to its many attractions, and the number of tourist visits is increasing each year, making Phnom Penh a more travelable destination.
Top attractions in Phnom Penh include the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda and Phsar Thmey.