Capital city of the Khmers, who preferred it to Angkor as the center of power and dominion over Cambodia, the pearl of Asia, Phnom Penh, it is an urban center full of attractions that really drive tourists crazy: from Buddhist temples to palaces to markets, and then the "ethnic" neighborhoods, the French one and the Chinese one... everything attracts attention thanks to the colors of the buildings and the smells of the streets .
A tour of the capital of Cambodia, Phnom Penh, could prove to be really fun if you decide to organize your tour taking into consideration the idea of traveling with tuk tuks, typical local means of transport that will allow you to reach the main attractions of the city comfortably seated in a compartment passengers towed by a scooter and while your driver will take you to the indicated places, enjoy the view of the city admiring the frenzy of rebirth after a difficult past.
Start your itinerary with a visit to the Royal Palace where the royal family still lives; to follow, admire the Argento Pagoda and then move to the National Museum to learn about the historical journey of Cambodia. A walk along Sisowath Quay, Phnom Penh's riverfront, will allow you to see where the Tonlè Sap river and the Mekong join.
Then visit the Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum, the museum of the capital that will take you through the testimonies of one of the worst pages in the history of Cambodia, namely the genocide carried out by Pol Pot's regime which exterminated a large part of the Cambodian people, reducing the capital to a wounded city with no future , but with difficulty and pain after 40 years she has slowly managed to recover.
By putting aside the cultural component in favor of the more frivolous one, you can dedicate part of your itinerary to negotiating the purchase of some souvenir in the central market of the capital Phsar Tmai, where you can buy a souvenir of your trip to Cambodia. The market will also amaze you with its structure with 4 wings and a dome in the center. Furthermore, if you start thinking about refresh yourself with some local dishes, in one of the places in this fantastic market in the capital you can order pepper crab, a truly delicious typical Cambodian recipe, and then continue your journey among the colorful stalls of Phsar Tmai Market.
If you are determined to take a trip to the surroundings of the capital, about 15 kilometers north of Phnom Penh, there is the island Koh roof, known in Cambodia as the silk island. As the name suggests, it is famous for the production and spinning of this precious fabric. Moving eastwards from Phnom Penh you can reach the popular picnic area of the town of Koki: hundreds of bamboo huts close to the waters of a lake formed by a tributary of the Mekong river will grant you a relaxing break in the company of the locals, the Cambodians love this oasis very much and perhaps by having a chat you will be able to understand a lot about the life of the Khmer people.
But if your desire is to leave the chaos of the capital behind and delve as much as possible into the ancient tradition of Cambodia and discover one of the most well-known places of worship, all you have to do is organize a tour (plane, bus or car) to reach Angkor Wat , Khmer temple inside the archaeological site of Angkor near the city of Siem Reap which is about 5 hours from Phnom Penh.
It's really worth the trip from the capital to admire this site; given its importance, the temple is considered the symbol of Cambodia, so much so that it appears on the national flag. The Khmer style and the characteristics of Cambodian architecture that can be appreciated in the "mountain temple", to symbolize Mount Meru, the summit of the Hindu gods, and the subsequent "gallery temples", give the entire site an austere but sumptuous and at the same time capable of arousing the curiosity of visitors who want to discover its various details.
To guard access to the temple of Angkor Wat – which is located not far from the ancient capital of Cambodia – you will find the statue of the mythical Naga, seven-headed serpent protector of Buddha and that of the guardian lion: they will impress you with their grandeur. The temple is surrounded on all four sides by a large moat and boasts a perimeter of almost four kilometers. The structure can be accessed via a stone embankment that will lead you to the courtyard and your gaze will immediately be captivated by the various sculptures that decorate the walls. Passing the surrounding walls you will find yourself in the other courtyard, the innermost one where the towers will appear majestic.
The central complex of the Angkor Wat temple is structured on three levels which allow access to the central tower; along the corridors enormous bas-reliefs portray religious scenes, you will even admire a large swimming pool with stairs. Going up to the second level you will be greeted by the other towers guarding the shrine of the ancient capital while continuing to the third level it will be the panorama on the temple itself and the surrounding jungle in the heart of Cambodia to leave you speechless.
