Cambodia becomes the host of the Sea Games 2023 this year. Cambodia is becoming a popular tourism destination. For most tourists, the magnificent Angkor temples are the main draw, but Cambodia has a lot more to offer, with tropical beaches, colonial structures, and a variety of natural attractions. Here are 4 popular tourist destinations in Cambodia:
1. Angkor
Angkor was the capital city of the Khmer Empire, which prospered between the 9th and the 15th centuries and is by far the most popular tourist destination in Cambodia. The city is now in stunning ruins close to Siem Reap, tucked away among farms and forests.
There are approximately 1,000 temples there, ranging in size from rubble mounds in the rice fields to the spectacular Angkor Wat, the greatest single religious structure in the world, which inspires and mesmerizes everyone who visits. If you want to see the sunrise over this amazing structure, go there early. UNESCO officially designated the entire architectural complex a World Heritage Site.
Read other news about Cambodia Becomes the First Country to host ‘free’ SEA Games
2. Kratié
Kratié is a tranquil old French colonial market town in eastern Cambodia on the banks of the Mekong River. The marketplace, which was once at the center of the city, is still there. The town is famous for being the home of the Irrawaddy dolphins. These amazing creatures, which are becoming an increasingly endangered species, have lived here for decades and work in harmony with the local fishermen to catch fish. There are just about 80 dolphins left in the area.
3. Koh Ker
The isolated archeological site of Koh Ker is in northern Cambodia, 75 miles from Siem Reap. During the Khmer era, it was one of the most important towns and was temporarily the capital of the Khmer Empire. There were some great monuments there. The most notable one is Prasat Thom, a magnificent pyramid that reaches 98 feet into the sky.
The temples of Koh Ker are scattered among inaccessible forests, unlike the Angkor Wat temples, and there are not many people living nearby. Many of the temples are inaccessible due to thick vegetation or too risky to reach due to the presence of landmines.
4. The Silver Pagoda
The Silver Pagoda, formerly known as Wat Ubosot Ratanaram, is on the grounds of the Royal Palace in the city of Phnom Penh. It gets its name from the 5000 silver tiles that cover its floor. It is home to two of the most significant Buddha statues in the country: a life-size Maitreya Buddha covered in 9584 diamonds and a crystal Buddha from the 17th century.
A mural of the Ramayana epic made by 40 Khmer artisans between 1903 and 1904 dominates the inside walls of the pagoda courtyard. Not only The Silver Pagoda is a tourist attraction but also the ground is used for numerous royal and national functions.
source: rainforestcruises
