About Cambodia Country

Cambodia, officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in Mainland Southeast Asia. It has a population of approximately 16.7 million people and covers an area of 181,035 square kilometers. The capital and largest city is Phnom Penh. Cambodia is a constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary system of government. The country has a predominantly rural population, and its economy is primarily based on agriculture, garment-making, and tourism. Cambodia has a rich history, being the heir to the ancient Khmer Empire. The country endured a period of civil war and the brutal rule of the Khmer Rouge in the 1970s, during which millions of people lost their lives. Today, Cambodia is experiencing relative stability and economic growth, with a focus on reducing poverty and attracting foreign investment. The official language is Khmer, and the currency is the Cambodian riel. The country has strong economic ties with China and is a member of various international organizations, including the United Nations and ASEAN

Angkor Park

ANGKOR PARK, a UNESCO World Heritage site, is arguably Southeast Asia’s most frequently visited tourist destination. It’s located in Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia and covers an area of 200 square kilometres (77 square miles) and includes over one hundred accessible ancient sites dating between the early 9th and the 14th centuries.

ANGKOR WAT, the world’s largest stone religious monument, is an architectural masterpiece and an expression of Khmer art at its highest point of development. Its monumental scale and size of 210 hectares (500 acres) must be seen to be believed; and the 12,200 square metres (13, 131 square feet) of intricately carved reliefs are unequalled in detail, composition, and fine workmanship.

“We stand before it stunned. It is like nothing else in the land”
(H. Churchill Candee, 1924).
BAYON, is a temple situated at the centre of Angkor Thom, the royal city that was the religious and administrative centre of the vast and powerful Khmer empire in the late 12th and early 13th centuries. Over 200 faces carved on more than 54 towers give this temple its majestic character.

“Ta Prohm’s state of ruin is a state of beauty which is investigated with delight and left with regret. But one can always come again,And one always does”
(H. Churchill Candee, 1924)
TA PROHM, unlike most of the temples which have been restored to their original state, was left untouched by archaeologists until recently. Here you see parts of the temple shrouded in jungle that conjure a romantic aura. Fig and banyan trees twist and spread their gigantic roots amongst the stones probing walls and terraces apart.

But there’s more. Today, you can travel beyond the park and explore temples such as Banteay Srei (often visitors favorite because of its unique pink sandstone and exquisite carving) and the grand temple complex of Koh Ker where you can climb to the top of the spectacular seven-tiered pyramid of Prasat Thom.

These are just a few of Angkor’s highlights

SIEM REAP, the town closest to the monuments, offers a variety of experiences. Visit the Angkor National Museum, attend a traditional dance performance, explore Cambodia’s cuisine by touring the market with a guide or taking a cooking class; shop for Cambodian handicrafts in the market; visit the Center for Khmer Studies located on the grounds of Wat Damnak and see the burgeoning library with over 20,000 volumes.

Beyond Siem Reap, travel to Tonle Sap, the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, visit the floating fishing village, visit the Prek Toal bird sanctuary to see rare and endangered species; Cambodia’s silk farm; the crocodile farm; Kulen Elephant Forest; and Kulen Mountain and its spectacular waterfalls.

All this and much more awaits you
Travel with “ Sambo ” kham as your guide.

Dawn F. Rooney, Author
Angkor: Cambodia’s Wondrous Khmer Temples
Angkor Observed