Fishing is one of the major occupations in Cambodia and considering that fact, it may not be a surprise to find floating villages in the country. Most of the population in Cambodia is concentrated around water bodies, which is probably the reason why water is so central to the Cambodian culture and society. In such a culture, floating villages only strengthen this bond, as people choose water over land for building their homes. Given their unique setting, it has become a popular tourist attraction over time.

What most tourists are excited to see the most in the floating village of Chong Khneas are the fish and crocodile floating farms. People really look forward to take a peek at the lazy crocodiles, which are shy creatures and hide most of the time, but you can surely get a chance to take some pictures. Tourists usually take keen interest in feeding the crocodiles and the catfish farm, which is located nearby as well. It is amazing how people manage to keep animals like crocodiles, chicken and pigs on these floating farms.

Another particular attraction of Chong Khneas, towards which the tourists have developed a special interest, is the local elementary school. But the real value of this attraction would be at the time of children leaving the school to their homes, and it is really a worth watching spectacle. Among other attractions, the Gecko Environment Center and the Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary in the vicinity can really increase your knowledge about the habitat around the Lake Tonle Sap.

Probably the first sight that will await you in Chong Khneas is a crowd of boats along the banks of the river when you will arrive there from Siem Reap. While a boat ride is what visiting Chong Khneas is all about, many prefer to time their trip to enjoy a sunset boat ride. But a sunset boat ride could cost you more than a regular one. It is not difficult to find a boat ride at all, but if you go for better quality, such as a boat with meal and drinks, you will be charged quite a high fare. A ferry ride from Phnom Penh could cost you as much as $35, but the local boats can cost much less, especially the tak taks.

Chong Khneas is the most famous of the floating villages, but there are many more places like this to see as well. In fact, these days many tourists are not content with the crowded Chong Khneas, and are prepared to explore the floating villages deeper into the Lake Tonle Sap to find the ones which are more unadulterated and traditional. Just near the Chong Khneas, Kampong Kleang and Kompong Phluk are the best alternatives. On the other side of the lake, Kompong Luong is yet another spot in the Pursat province, which is gradually gaining popularity for a similar attraction.

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Among the attractions of the city, its various pagodas will surely be noticed by you. But what the tourists really look forward to of all the attractions in the city are a couple of 11th century Hindu temples built by the Khmer ruler Surya Varman I (reign 1002-1050 AD), Barseat and Et Wak, which are thought to be even older than the Angkor Wat. These temples are a must for the students of the Khmer architecture of the period, or for photographers at least. The Ba Nan Temple is also a noteworthy attraction, and can be easily distinguished as it is made on the top of a 400 meter mountain. Tourists are also as much interested in the Prasat Snung, which features three brick stupas.

Another very important feature of the Battambang province is its natural beauty. You can find a few natural resorts in the province, day trips to which can really prove to be refreshing. You can follow the National Highway 57 from Battambang city and find Phnom Sav Pov Resort at just the distance of 12 km. The Phnom Sav Pov Resort is located at the Sam Puoy Mountains, which are of great significance for the local legend of Neang Rum SeySork. There is also a temple at the top of the mountain.

Another important natural resort is the Beong Kam Pinh Puoy Resort, which is at a distance of 35 km from the Battambang city. It is a resort rich in vegetation and has a unique location between the Phnom Kul and Phnom Kam Pinh Puoy Mountains. The Ser Sak Resort is also worth-mentioning. This is another scenic resort which is spread across an area of 500 meters along the river, and is known for featuring the ancient sites of Sa Angs Peak and Po Pus Pich Da Dong Tong.

If you want to spend a quiet and tranquil holiday, then you can count on Battambang to be the right place for you. But if you are also an admirer of the natural beauty of the region, and also have a deep interest in the culture, traditions, history and architecture of Cambodia, then the province would prove to be an absolute treat for you. And speaking of architecture, Battambang has also had its fair share of French colonial architecture. So, there is plenty of history for those who are interested.

A trip to Battambang could really be convenient for tourists, as the province is ideally located alongside the Siem Reap province in the northeast, and the Pursat, Koh-Kong and Sihanoukville provinces in the southeast. So when you plan your trip for Cambodia, you could plan your itinerary taking a round tour of the country from either north to south, or the other way around, you could easily slip in Battambang in the plan for a day or two. You can find some fine accommodation options in Battambang city and bars and restaurants would not let you get bored during the night. Treat yourself on your holidays by exploring the mystique of Battambang.

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Starting with the province of Koh Kong, which is the province where the enchanted Cardamom Mountains are located. The zone around the mountains, which is probably the most spectacular natural environment in the country, has been declared a protected area and is known as the Koh Kong Conservation Corridor. This protected area features the Botum Sakor National Park, which consists of the characteristic mangrove forests of the region and some breathtaking beaches. The park also is home to a rich wildlife including the endangered Indochinese tiger and the Malayan sun bear, apart from various bird species.

In the neighboring Koh Kong province, covering the Cardamom Mountains, is located probably the most important ecotourism area in the country, known collectively as the Koh Kong Conservation Corridor. The Botum Sakor National Park, which is a part of this huge protected area, features beautiful beaches and mangrove forests, features a variety of wildlife including the gibbon, various bird species, elephants and leopards among others. You can enjoy the natural beauty of Botum Sakor conveniently by hiring a boat from Sihanoukville. In the neighboring Kampong Speu province, the Kirirom National Park is also famous for its rich wildlife attractions, and is popular among tourists for recreational activities.

The coastal province of Kep is as popular for its beaches as Sihanoukville, particularly the Rabbit Island. If Kep happens to be one of the destinations on your plan, then you could easily access the Kep National Park. And not too far away from there, in the neighboring coastal province of Kampot, you could see for yourself one of the most famous places in Cambodia, which has even been featured in a couple of Hollywood films. The Bokor National Park, otherwise known as the Preah Monivong, features the abandoned French colonial town of the Bokor Hill Station, as it is known to the West. The hilly protected area is spectacular in its natural beauty, with thick forests and is home to some of the endangered species of the region.

If the focus of your trip to Cambodia is on the Angkor Wat, then you can also use the opportunity to visit the Phnom Kulen National Park, which is less than fifty miles from the most famous temple complex of the world. The park is named after the sacred Kulen Mountains, which are among the most sacred sites to the Khmer people in the country. The Phnom Kulen Park features Hindu temples and a hilltop Buddhist pagoda along with a reclining statue of Buddha, the Elephant pond and a magnificent waterfall, and is worth visiting by all means. So, whatever may be your interests in Cambodia, you can always take some time out to visit one of its many national parks to truly explore the beauty of the region.

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If you have some sort of interest in studying the Khmer architecture, the nineteenth century Royal Palace has much in store for you. When you set out for the Royal Palace make sure you don’t leave your camera in the hotel room as this Cambodian landmark has to offer some mind blowing spectacles such as the Chan Chayya Pavilion, the Throne Hall and the Silver Pagoda and the. First time visitors are always recommended to initiate their ‘Cambodian Yatra’ from Phnom Penh as the National Museum of Cambodia located in the capital is the perfect place to learn more about the country’s culture and history.

The National Museum of Cambodia is considered to be the best place where you can get a quick insight into the country’s rich history especially the Khmer era. The museum displays several artworks and historical artifacts which offer you a very close view of the Khmer history. Particularly the celebrated statue of the Leper King attracts the attention of the tourists and art lovers the most.

A remarkable structure standing in the capital of Cambodia is Wat Phnom which is as old as the city itself and dates back to the fourteenth century. The Wat Phnom or the Hill Temple is one of the many ancient religious buildings in the country and features a stupa and shrine within its walls for tourists and the local faithful. The Wat Phnom is a prominent structure in the city’s architecture and is bustling with people as the New Year Eve arrives when magnificent celebrations are sparked. Many years after it was built, The Hill Temple has become, to some extent, a park where people come to enjoy the healthy natural environment. A unique feature of this temple is that it was built on a man-made hill which is more than 100 feet high.

A tourist, who has done his or her homework, would always prefer to visit Phnom Penh during the month of November, as during that month, the spectacular Water & Moon Festival takes place in the city, which is truly a magical experience. The city has plenty of markets where you can collect some souvenirs and objects of your interest, particularly the Phsar Thom Thmei or the Central Market, which features a very interesting architectural design. It is the main attraction for those who want to do some shopping in the city.

Phnom Penh also offers plenty of places that offer some nightlife activity. There are plenty of bars, clubs and restaurants in the Riverfront area, apart from other parts of the city, which many would find interesting. For those who are in Cambodia for a city break, Phnom Penh offers them all sorts of attractions to leave them satisfied at the end of the day.

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The festival is held in remembrance of a landmark naval battle victory achieved by the Khmer ruler King Jayavarman VII and a special attraction in this festival is a thrilling spectacle of a rowing boat race organized at the Tonle Sap River. The locals have been celebrating this festival for many centuries and the country’s deep history in rowing boats dates back to the Khmer Empire era when soldiers used to sharpen their battling skills with rowing. The Water and Moon Festival features more than 150 native rowing boats with a traditional dragon face, while each boat carries an amazing number of 40 rowers on each boat.

But the Water and Moon Festival is something more than just a long-established Khmer race as in the evening a bright float parade is arranged for in which Loy Pratip, traditional illuminated Khmer floats stage a dazzling display of rich Cambodian culture. And on top of the amazing float parade, beautiful fireworks display brings an overall mood of festivity among the large crowd gathered alongside the river and circling the famous Royal Palace. In order to get a fair idea of the scenes visible during the Water and Moon Festival in the Phnom Penh you can compare it to the famous New Orleans event, the Mardi Gras parade.

The further traditions of the Water & Moon Festival are of religious nature to the indigenous population, which includes the Moon Salutation or the Sampeas Preah Khe. The significance of this ritual is that the festival coincides with a full moon night, which is deemed by the Cambodians as a good omen for a favorable harvest, for which they offer their salutations to the moon. This also is considered to be a very appropriate time for prayer for prosperity in the year to come. The festival also marks the new fishing season, so it offers many reasons for Cambodians to celebrate.

However, no festival is complete without a feast, and the food for the Water & Moon Festival that marks the celebration is the Ork Ambok. Ork Ambok is a special Cambodian delicacy which is particular to this occasion. The Ork Ambok consists of rice with either coconut or banana juice, which is consumed along with various fruits and vegetables. Not only is the festival, which continues non-stop for three days, a treat for the local participants of the festival, but is equally exciting to those who come to Phnom Penh from around the world for witnessing this amazing spectacle.

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If you want a relaxed atmosphere with not so much tourist influx, then you will find yourself very comfortable in Cambodia. The province most known for its beach holiday resorts is Sihanoukville, and is also known as Kampong Song. A lot of work has been done to develop tourist resorts on the beaches, while the site is a worthwhile place for a relaxed beach holiday with not a lot of tourist influx.

Whether you have planned a trip to the Sihanoukville province exclusively to enjoy the beach resorts, or if you have a taste for archaeology and want to explore the beautiful city of Angkor Wat, you will not be able to stop yourself from going to the beach at least a few times. Most tourists regard Deum Chhrey Beach, the Independence Beach, the Ream Beach and the Occheuteal Beach as their favorite beach resorts in the province. Sokha Beach Resort stands out as the most visited resort in Angkor Wat, meanwhile few other resorts which offer breathtaking natural settings are Phnom Leu, the Kbal Chhay Waterfall and the Koh Pors Island.

If you are interested in an even quieter environment, then you can try the beaches in Kampot. Kampot is a small town, but can offer you a lot of natural beauty and unspoilt environment. With the beautiful Elephant Mountains in the backdrop, the beaches in Kampot offer the perfect escape for those who like to spend their time appreciating the beauty of Mother Nature. However, you may not find Kampot as developed as other more popular parts of the country, and taking a road trip to the town can be a little uncomfortable. Kampot is also famous for its French colonial architecture.

The western province of Koh Kong also offers spectacular locations along its coastline. Despite the fact that tourists having the plan to explore the historical cities of Angkor Wat and Phnom Penh have to go out of their usual course to visit beach resorts of Koh Kong, the fact is that their journey can never be entirely fulfilling if they miss these resorts imparting heavenly beauty. While Lam Da Beach and Sner Beach resorts hold a special place among tourists, the breathtaking collection of six beach resorts often termed as Deum Dong Beach on the close by island of Koh Moul is a place you simply cannot afford to miss.

Many foreign tourists feel more convenient at Koh Kong beaches, as not only they are closer to larger resorts such as Cham Yeam Resort which have excellent accommodation facilities, they also present them with spectacular shades of nature. There are many great beach resorts in Cambodia and the best part is that you will find them all in excellent condition with no signs of human manipulation and doesn’t that promise a great close-to-nature vacations plan for the arriving summer season?

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Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia houses a gem of a tourist attraction in the Royal Palace. The capital city has a remarkable characteristic that its location is the same where three rivers meet up. The Royal Palace attracts many visitors as it has many wonderful works of art and precious statues, moreover, it stands along the river which adds to its beauty and glory. Inside the Palace, ‘The Throne Room’ marks the place where rituals and ceremonies where held in old days, while ‘The Napoleon Room’ shows the lasting mark the French have made on the Cambodian traditions. ‘Silver Pagoda’ is a special place to visit in the Palace as it the home of a life-size statuette of Buddha. The features of this statue are truly mind-blowing as it is wholly made of gold and is also ornamented with diamonds. Life-size Buddha statue made of solid gold acts a major tourist attraction and many people head towards the ‘Silver Pagoda’ to set eyes on this true piece of art. With the ‘Silver Pagoda’ statue set aside, you will also find several smaller Buddha statues in the Royal Place.

And if you are interested in seeing some more precious jewelry, you can always direct your attention to the capital’s markets as several shops offer scintillating jewelry sets made of gold and silver. You will also find other valuable items such as old coins, paintings, cloths and, of course, the Cambodian food.

The walls of the Royal Palace are adorned with breathtaking frescoes and painting depicting Ramayana, while the red-brick National Museum is also the center of several pre-Angkor and post-Angkor sculptures, paintings and other works of art.

Your trip to Cambodia will not be fulfilling unless you visit Angkor, the old capital of the Khmer Empire and hub of Hinduism in the country because of its many landmark Hindu temples. Two famous temples in Angkor are Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom which grab the attention of visitors; on the other hand, many tourists also head towards the temples of Bayon and Prohm to see the beautifully designed gates. In spite of the fact that, over the years, Angkor has lost some of its splendor, tourists feel riveted by its history and the overall locations gives an effect of mysticism.

Sihanoukville is a port and is quickly developing as a beach resort for tourists. The beach has to offer a lot to tourists as you can spend time swimming, scuba diving or getting a tan under the beautiful sun. Boats are available for tourists to venture further into the waters and have a closer look at the magnificent types of fish and sea creatures, while many tourists also enjoy making trips to close by islands.

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Modern Cambodia is different from the one of the past, when it also included places like China, Thailand, and Vietnam among several others. Jayavarman II made this region the center of his empire and it was later called Angkor. Thousands of Khmer workers cleared the jungles and made the land good for farming. They also started building palaces and temples.

Each and every king of the Khmer empire built several beautiful temples and palaces. This was mostly done to show their power. However, Angkor’s finest temple, the Angkor Wat was built by King Suryavarman II, who ruled the Khmer empire from 1113 to 1150. This temple staggers the imagination with its unbelievable architecture.

King Suryavarman gave orders for the construction of a grand Hindu temple to honor Lord Vishnu, and it took thirty-five long years to build. Sculptures of gods, including Lord Shiva grace the walls of the temple. While most other Khmer temples face the East, the Angkor Wat faces the West. Some historians believe that the West, a direction of the setting sun indicates death, but others believe that it shows dedication to Lord Vishnu.

Angkor Wat is a masterpiece of Khmer art. All descriptions of the temple fall far short of communicating the perfect proportions and the astoundingly beautiful sculptures that the viewer is treated with face to face. The majestic architecture and the representation of form are astonishingly powerful and graceful. The inner galleries of the temple depict the battle of Kurukshetra, scenes from heaven and hell, churning of the sea of milk, and several more scenes drawn with great artistic beauty.

There was a unique controversy surrounding the temple, which was soon put to an end. It questioned the history of when the temple was built. The Europeans came up with the notion that the temple was built after the–th century because the temple’s motifs look exactly like the motifs from the Italian Renaissance. However, this rumor and allegation was instantly proved wrong, with historians saying that the opposite was true – that it was the Europeans that took the oriental art from Angkor Wat to Europe.

The chief architect of the Angkor Wat temple is said to be Divakara Pandita, He is the priest who is most praised in all the inscriptions; and an image of him is also found at Wat Phu. He was said to have lived around 1050-1135. He designed the temple based on astronomy and the astronomical aspects were derived from Puranic and Siddhantic ideas based on the Indian traditions of altar and temple design. It is no wonder that Angkor Wat is ranked among the greatest human creations ever.

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The first few centuries saw these two major religions, the Sanskrit language and other aspects of the Indian civilization making a strong impact on Khmer culture. The way Cambodians greet others with a “sampeah” gesture, is similar to the “namaste” in India or the “wai” in Thailand. During different periods, Cambodian culture also absorbed the Chinese, Javanese and Thai influences.

Khmer culture strongly defines every aspect of living, such as child birth, death, childhood, marriage, divorce, food, dance, music and literature. It is based on hierarchy and the level of respect a person gets depends on their age; the older they are the higher the status. It is a patriarchal society where the father is the head of the family and one of the most noticeable things about Khmer culture is the fashion of the Cambodian people, which is dependant on the social status and caste of a person.

The Khmer belief in spirits is a long-standing one and has been around for centuries. Childbirth is considered as a happy occasion, but it is also a period when the spirits may bring harm to the mother and child. A woman who dies in childbirth is believed to turn into an evil spirit. Infants are observed keenly to note the character, which they are believed to be born with, and those who are seen to have a good character are respected. Cambodians also believe in reincarnation.

How can we not talk about the food of Cambodia, when talking about its culture? Rice and fish are the staples and a home-cooked meal is served on a mat on the floor, with the diners sitting on a slightly raised platform. Khmer culture dictates that the head of the family and other men eat first, with the women eating last.

Khmer art flourished during the Angkor period. Graphic arts, performance arts and literature are the lifeline of Khmer culture. Domestic storytelling and narrative singing to the playing of a Banjo like instrument are important culturally. They have a long tradition of writing religious texts, epic poetry and royal chronicles; although, no modern text exists. Classical dance and music associated with the courts originally, enjoy a huge popularity even to this day. They have a unique way of expressing emotions through the use of hands and feet. These local traditions are kept alive by the small-time singers, theater artists and musicians.

The–th century saw Khmer culture come in to its own, but it had hit a rock bottom during the devastation of the Khmer rouge. But this political upheaval could not suppress the rich culture for long and it now thrives in all villages and cities of Cambodia in every form of art and in the lifestyle of the Cambodians.

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The Khmer Rouge started going against the Cambodian government in’70, and since they needed more power, they took the help of the North Vietnam and Viet Cong troops. This power led them to gaining control over a majority of Cambodia, increasing their strength from a meager 3,000 to 30,000 within a three-year period. After this has been achieved, the external troops from North Vietnam and the Viet Cong troops could withdraw as the Khmer Rouge was now powerful.

Under the leadership of Pol Pot, in’75, “Democratic Kampuchea” came into existence after the government was brought down. Everything changed for the Cambodian people and all the peace and quiet vanished overnight, and the monstrous rule of the Khmer Rouge took over. They started demolishing everything that was held dear by the people of Cambodia. They evacuated full cities, destroyed property, closed factories and schools and made thousands of workers turn to farming. The worst part was the assassinations of millions of people. Later it was revealed that the death toll was more than 2 million people.

Things were not hunky dory with Vietnam too, leading to the invasion of Cambodia by the Vietnamese in’79. This helped bring down the Khmer Rouge; however, its 30,000 strong army continued to flourish on the Thai border, to the extent that the United Nations gave it the recognition of the official Cambodian government.

In’82, this government entered into a coalition with former premier Norodom Sihanouk and Son Sann, who was a non-Communist leader. Leadership also changed hands from Pol Pot to Khieu Samphan, although it was widely believed that the real leader was still Pol Pot. In’91, all the Cambodian factions signed a treaty asking for UN-supervised elections and in’92; the UN assumed the administrative functions of the government. It was at this time that the Khmer Rouge disconnected itself from the peace process and started fighting. It also rejected the results of the UN-run elections that saw the beginning of a coalition government in Cambodia.

As is wont to happen, in’97, due to factional fighting within themselves, Pol Pot was oustered and imprisoned by the Khmer Rouge and he died in’98. That was the end of the Khmer Rouge, as most of the members were either captured, had surrendered or defected by’99.

The extent of the mass assassinations in Cambodia was not known to the world until’79, when Vietnam overthrew the Khmer Rouge. It was only then that the actual atrocities came to light.

Khmer Rouge is considered to be the deadliest and most shocking reigns of the modern era. The death toll is not an indication of the brutalities that Cambodians had to suffer in the hands of unscrupulous elements that formed the government. It created such an impact on the world that there never was another revolution that was worse than the one in Cambodia.

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