Angkor Thom-Siem Reap

Angkor Thum, royal city and Buddhist temple complex at Angkor, the region that served from 802 until 1295 as the capital of the Khmer Empire of Cambodia. Khmer king Jayavarman VII, who reigned in the late 12th and early 13th centuries, began building the vast monument at Angkor Thum (Khmer for "Angkor-the-Great" or "Great City") after he had regained control of the Angkor region from the Cham army of northern Cambodia, which had seized it around 1177.

http://www.galenfrysinger.com/angkor_thom.htm

Koh Pich: Cambodia Stellite City

A satellite city featuring a 222-meter observation tower on it will be built at an island opposite Phnom Penh's NagaCorp Casino, local media reported on Friday.
The Phnom Penh municipality has leased the island Koh Pich to Overseas Cambodian Investment, a parent company of Canadia Bank. Contract-signing ceremony was held on Thursday, The Cambodia Daily reported.
While declining to release the plans, Touch Sam Nang, the architect for the project, described that "we will construct cultural and tourism areas, a hospital, a shopping mall, villas, flats, hotels, schools, offices and a 222-meter high tower from which everybody will be able to see the whole of Phnom Penh."
The exact term of the lease is 90 years, and the construction will be completed by 2015, Touch Sam Nang said.
Between 60 million U.S. dollars and 70 million will go into infrastructure, including a bridge to be known as the second Preah Monivong bridge, and about 200 million is planned for the buildings, according to Touch Sam Nang.
Source: Xinhua

http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/

Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda

The Royal Palace is the residence of King Sihanouk in Phnom Penh. There are a number of buildings of note including the impressive Throne Hall, the Silver Pagoda (floored with over 5000 silver tiles) and an iron house given to King Norodom by Napoleon III of France.
One can also see hundreds of gifts which have been presented to the royal family over the years including a 90kg solid gold Buddha encrusted with 9,584 diamonds.

http://www.asiatravel-cambodia.com/cambodia-tourist-attractions.htm

Located in Sam Bor village, it is 37km from Kampong Thom on National Highway No.64. It is a former capital, and was previously named Ey San Borak. A religious center dedicated to Shiva, Sambor Prey Kuk temple is made of solid brick and some laterite stone, and is decorated with sculptures.

The artistic front of Sar Sar Pich and the doorframes are made of sandstone. Sam Bor Prey Kuk temple was built during the reign of King Isanavarman I in the 7th century. The temple was abandoned in 1971 and restored in 1980. A further 140 sites have been found in the forest nearby, and two others, known to exist, have yet to be discovered. Pra Sat Sam Bor Prey Kuk is in four big groups as follows:

Northern temples: Called Pra Sat Sam Bor, and located at the centre of the site, this group is surrounded by various smaller temples.

Mid-temples: Called Pra Sat Tor, these can only be entered via the northern door, as the other doors are purely decorative. There are four stairs, one from each direction, and each has two figures of lions called Te Vak Kak Tha. West of Pra Sat Tor are groups of smaller temples.

Southern temples: Called Pra Sat Ba Yon and located at the centre, surrounded by many temples, Pra Sat Ba Yon has two classes of ramparts. The inside rampart has Ba Rak lions facing in each direction. Pra Sat Ba Yon is the former capital.

http://www.ancientangkorguide.com/kompong-thom-local-guide/

Kg.Thom Province

Kompong Thom is about 146km south east of Siem Reap on the road to Phnom Penh, and is one of the five provinces surrounding the Tonle Sap Lake. It is another sleepy Provincial capital, but the ruins of nearby Sambor Prei Kuk do make it a more rewarding stop than many others. If you are travelling on the road between Phnom Penh and Siem Reap it is a pleasant place to stop, and is a good base from which to explore the pre-Angkorian Tchen-La capital of Sambor Prei Kuk, and the hilltop temple of Phnom Suntok.

http://www.ancientangkorguide.com/kompong-thom-local-guide/

Phnom Sopouv (Battambang Province)

Phnom Sampeou (Ship Mountain) is a natural rocky outcrop which can be climbed via 700 steps. The hill has a series of grottos to explore, each lined with Buddhist shrines and statues. The main temple complex is on the peak. The view of the surrounding countryside is breath talking. Phnom Krapeu (Crocodile Mountain) is visible from the top, as is Phnom Kdoung (Ship-Sail Mountain). Phnom Sampeou is off National Road 57 (former National Road 10), in Sampeou Commune about 12km from Battambang.
Kamping Puoy Reservoir is a gigantic civil engineering project that was central to the Khmer Rouge’s plan to irrigate the countryside around Battambang. It was built at the cost of thousands of lives. Most of the deaths on the Kamping Puoy project resulted from malnutrition, disease, overwork or maltreatment. In short, all the deaths were preventable. Haing S. Ngor’s book Cambodian Odyssey provides a powerful insight into life under the Khmer Rouge in the Province. The reservoir itself runs between two hills:Phnom Kol (or Phnom Ta Ngel) and Phnom Kamping Puoy. It is now a popular picnic site for residents of Pailin and Battambang.

Banan (Battambang Province)

Phnom Banan is an 11th century temple begun by King Udayadityavarman II (1050-1066), and completed by King Jarvarman VII (1181-1219). The temple is located on the top of a 400m high hill 25km from Battambang. A must-see.








http://www.ancientangkorguide.com/battambang-local-guide/