The Mystic Wat Phnom

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People believe that Wat Phnom in Phnom Penh is so powerful that anyone who makes a wish here will have it granted. Many come flocking to this temple to see this belief come true and others get drawn merely by the sense of mysticism that this temple holds.

Wat Phnom is situated on a tree-covered hill about 30m high in the northeast of the city. The history of this temple has a very interesting legend….

The legend goes that…Lady Penh found four Buddha statues in a koki tree floating on the Mekong River. She built a hill in 1372 and a placed a shrine above this to house the valued artifacts. King Ponhea Yat came in 1434 and constructed the city which he called Phnom Penh.

Since then, the shrine has been rebuilt many times in 1434, 1806, 1894, and most recently in 1926. Each new reconstruction was more spectacular than the previous one.

There is an altar for Yeay Penh (grandmother Penh) kept between the stupa and the Vihear. The inhabitants of Phnom Penh consider her as a powerful protective spirit of the town. They request for her help for any major decisions.

There is a large stupa which contains the remains of King Ponhea Yat (1405-1476) and his royal family. There is a Buddha statue, from the Angkorean period inside the stupa.

Tourist Info:

• Wat Phnom is open from 7 a.m to 5.30 p.m daily.


• There is a $1 entry fee. You can buy the ticket downstairs.


• Tourists can take pictures inside the temple without disturbing the devotees


• Warning: The steps up to Wat Phnom are lined with beggars, hustlers and even policemen who try to extort money from foreign visitors. Just ignore them. 

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Uniqueness of Wat Phnom

Many people come here to pray for protection or healing. They bring lotus flowers as offerings for prayers answered. There is a small zoo at the bottom of the hill.

When a person’s wish is granted, he or she returns to make the offering (which includes jasmine flowers or bananas) promised when the request was made.

A bit to the north of the vihara (temple sanctuary) and below it is an eclectic shrine, which is dedicated to the genie Preah Chau. The genie was especially revered by the Vietnamese.

Down the hill from the shrine there is a royal stupa sprouting full-size trees from its roof.  The roots of these trees are holding the bricks together in their net-like grip, but when the trees die the tower will slowly crumble!…all these uniqueness that define the Wat Phnom makes it a must visit site for all those heading to the mystic land – Cambodia.

The National Museum of Cambodia

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Phnom Penh, the capital of Cambodia boasts an exotic blend of the old and the new, the past and the present. The National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh offers the tourists with a gateway to explore the bygone days of the region. It is Cambodia’s leading historical and archaeological museum – and this makes it a must inclusion in your itinerary.

The National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom Penh houses the world’s largest collection of Khmer art. The museum was built in 1917–20 by the French colonial authorities in a traditional Khmer style, with French influence. A one in a kind structure that you won’t find a replica of in this world.

Tourist Info:

• The museum is open from 8:00 am until 5:00 pm (Seven days a week)


• The entry fee is $3.00.


• Taking photos in the inner courtyard costs $1.00.


• Taking photos inside the museum is not allowed.


• Tour guides are available in English, French, Japanese, Khmer, and Vietnamese for a fee of $5.00.


• Tourist guide books are available for $3.00.


• The exhibits are labeled in Khmer, English, and French.

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Did you know?

Until recently, the museum was also home to a large colony of Cambodian freetail bats, which lived in the rafters. However, they moved out after renovations to the roof and ceilings in March 2002.

The architectural style of the National Museum has sculptures, which date from both the Angkorean and pre-Angkorean eras. The museum is beautifully housed in a terra-cotta roofed structure of customary Cambodian design that was built between 1917 and 1920.

According to Hab Touch, the director of the museum, the national museum in Phnom Penh is the world’s largest exhibit of ancient Khmer artifacts. There are 12,320 more pieces in the museum basement, waiting to be categorized and exhibited.

The national museum is divided into several categories, which includes stone, bronze, prehistoric items, wood sculptures, ceramics and ethnographic objects from the prehistoric, pre-Angkor, Angkor and post-Angkor periods.

There are many significant examples of Buddhist images found on display. The collection of Buddhist statues from Vat Romlok and Angkor Borei are the most important representations in the history of Khmer Buddhist art.

Theft of the Cambodian Heritage:

According to Heritage Watch, approx. $20 million of the nation’s heritage has been traded since 1988. At least 90% of the material sold on the antiquities market is illegally acquired. Approx $1 million worth of Khmer antiquities is traded through one auction house per year. Heritage Watch has begun a national radio and TV campaign targeting both those who loot and buy these antiquities. Heritage Watch has also published children’s books and a comic book on the heritage theft. They have organized grass-roots training sessions in rural villages and established a national hot-line to report these thefts.

Visiting the National Museum of Cambodia in Phnom is an experience that will take you years back in time….

Come and discover the Glorious Past of Cambodia!

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Overview of The National Museum

Interior of The National Museum

Sihanoukville Beach Resort

Beach Lover’s Paradise

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Pristine beaches, caressing waves, exotic Cambodian cultures, and a great vacation are just some of the many reasons that make Sihanoukville, one of the most happening and exciting tourist destinations in Cambodia. The white sandy beaches and warm Gulf of Thailand waters of Sihanoukville makes for an ideal little tropical getaway…the one you’ll want to never end.

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Highlights of Sihanoukville – Beach Resort:

Beaches and Islands: Most of the paradisiacal Sihanoukville beaches are crowded with beach chairs, umbrellas, bars, and people. Others are just filled with sand. You can choose to visit the one depending on what you are looking for – activities or tranquility.

Beaches and Islands:

Sokha Beach – It is an idea family beach with lots of facilities available. Do not forget to try out the lip smacking sea food specialties. The beach is good for snorkeling.

Ochheuteal Beach – You will find many good hotels for your stay here. There are some great seafood restaurants.

Independence Beach – It is named so after the Independence hotel, which has been long closed down. It is a less crowded beach. You will find some good seafood restaurants and fresh water lakes. Swimming should be avoided here.

Victory beach – It is a popular tourist haunt.  It is an easy walk from Victory Hill. You will find here plenty of seafood, boating activities, guesthouses, and a casino. It also features a pier for island boat trips.

Hawaii beach – The beach is ideal for those who desire to spend some quiet moments reconnecting with nature. The beach is dotted with pine trees.  You will find many small boats available for rent to the islands nearby.

Getting around in Sihanoukville – Beach Resort:

Tourists will find a few ways to get around in this beach town. While most of the tourists prefer to walk, there are also motorcycle taxi’s and Tuk Tuks available for hire.

To get to Sihanoukville town, tourists can take a car or bus from Kok Kong, Thailand.  There are many cruise ships and Naval ships that regularly dock at the port in town. Tourists can also take a flight to Phnom Penh and then it’s a 3 hour countryside ride to town.

Things to do in Sihanoukville – Beach Resort:

There is something for each and everyone to do in the beach town. The activities include swimming and sunning, trips to the islands, scuba diving, fishing, and snorkeling.  Tourists can also visit the Buddhist temples, and enjoy mountain biking, walking around downtown and shopping.

Unwind by the beach, explore the natural surroundings, taste the fresh from-the-ocean seafood…and most importantly just lay back and chill out at the Sihanoukville – Beach Resort.

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Exploring the ruins of Prasat Preah Vihear

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Prasat Preah Vihear temple, one of the most spectacular sights in Cambodia is a dream destination for all those who have an insatiable appetite for adventure. If you are planning to visit Cambodia then do not forget to include Prasat Preah Vihear temple in your itinerary or you will be leaving a significant part of Cambodia unexplored.

Location:

Preah Vihear Temple is nestled in an attractive countryside, slightly east of the mid-section of the Dongrek Mountains. The temple sits on the edge of a giant cliff, which is about 625 meters above sea level in Preah Vihear Province, northern part of Cambodia, 625 kilometers from the capital city of Phnom Penh. It is located close to the Cambodia-Thai border.

Guide for Tourists:

This spectacular Cambodian site was very difficult to reach until 2003. However things have changed for better! The temple can now be easily reached by crossing the Cambodia-Thai gateway border from the Ubon Ratchantani Province of Thailand. The visiting time is from 8.00 till 16.00 hours. It is advisable for tourists to carry food, water, first-aid and other basic necessities.

Attractions in Preah Vihear Temple:

Once you reach the site of Preah Vihear Temple, you will be rewarded with remarkable views from the striking ruins which stretch for 800 meters up the mountain. Preah Vihear Temple comprises of four levels and four courtyards which comprise of five Gopuras. There is lots to discover and explore in this mystical land. Some of the biggest attractions are:

Palace Building or Gopuras on the third level: This palatial building was the residence of the king, when he came here to pay homage to the mighty God. This group of buildings is considered as the main part of the whole temple complex.

The front stone stairway: You will find the front stone stairway on the north side. The stairway is 78 meters long and 8 meters wide. The first flight consists of 162 steps. At the first landing you will find a large stone singa statue. The next 54 flight of steps, which is 27 meters long and 4 meters wide, leads up to the second landing, also ornate with stone signa statue.

The Nagaraj Courtyard: From here the stairway leads up to the first-level Gropura. The stair heads are in the shape of seven-headed snakes known as “Ngu Suang ” facing North towards the Prasat. The heads and tails of nagas look like ordinary snakes, characterizing and early illustrations of this type of animal figures. The head portion of the naga on the west side looks classy because it is made from a single solid stone.

Greek structure in Asia: The first level Gopura is a pavilion in Greek architecture style. It has a cross plan on an elevated angle base. You will find stone lions placed on each of the roofs doorway. This Greek structure makes the temple one of its kinds in Asia.

For all the grandeur of Preah Vihear in Cambodia, with a commanding view over northern Cambodia, it is difficult to visualize it as a whole. This experience will surely stagger in your imagination for years to come.

 “Know more by clicking on the below Video”

Legendary Angkor Wat

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Everyday thousands of people trek into the Cambodian vegetation to witness the sunrise amidst the ancient stones and religious sculptures. As the sun leisurely illuminates the ornate towers and carved walls, a sense of awe descends upon the visitors, as they become humble witnesses to a re-discovered wonder of a ‘long dead’ kingdom. Welcome to Angkor Wat! Angkor Wat means “Capital Temple” or “City Temple“.

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 Interesting Facts about Angkor Wat:

Do you known that Angkor Wat, exhibiting key style and elements of classic Khmer architecture, remained shrouded in a veil of dense jungle vegetation long before its discovery in 1860? When the temples of Angkor Wat were discovered, the heavy drape of mystery was lifted to reveal an extraordinary reality that drives thousands of curious visitors to this place each year.

It is believed that the Angkor Wat temples were created to honor Vishnu, a pivotal Hindu God. The temples have stood the tests of time and are considered as one of the most spectacular sites in the world.

The Angkor Wat temples were homes to Khmer kings. This can be made put from the fact that besides the Angkor Wat temple structures, the complex also includes public buildings, palaces and regular homes.

When in the Angkor Wat complex, be prepared to come across the mysterious passage ways, beautiful carvings adorning temple walls, tall towers and sweeping courtyards. These together create a sight never seen before.

The blueprint of Angkor Wat Cambodia has been admired, scrutinized, and interpreted by thousands of archaeologists, architects and other designers all over the world. It is the most unique architecture in the world and this is what makes it so very fascinating!

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Architecture:

The temple walls are carved with bas-reliefs and devatas (guardian spirits). You can see huge faces of Buddha images inlaid on the several towers and entrance ways. You will be surprised to find that the Angkor Wat is oriented towards the west, unlike other temples, which face east.  Angkor Wat truly outdoes the Roman and Greek temples in size and complexity. Angkor Wat is indeed the largest religious structure ever built!

Best time to visit Angkor Wat:

The ideal time to visit the Angkor Wat is at sunrise, during afternoon, and at sunset. At this time, you can get the best view of the temples. This time is also ideal for photography. There are two man made lily ponds; they look their best at these times of the day.

You can plan to visit Angkor Wat during the dry season, around January to March. At this time the area is not swampy and trekking around the place is easy.

 “Know more by clicking on the below Video”

Introducing Cambodia

There’s a magic about Cambodia that casts a spell on many who visit this charming yet confounding kingdom. Ascend to the realm of the gods at the mother of all temples, Angkor Wat, a spectacular fusion of symbolism, symmetry and spirituality. Descend into the hell of Tuol Sleng and come face to face with the Khmer Rouge and its killing machine. Welcome to the conundrum that is Cambodia: a country with a history both inspiring and depressing, an intoxicating place where the future is waiting to be shaped.

                                                                                 Read more…

Tourist attractions in Combodia are : -

• Angkor Wat


• Banteay Chhmar


• Prasat Preah Vihear


• Sihanoukville – Beach Resort


• The National Museum of Cambodia


• Wat Phnom

Majestic Red Fort

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Visiting Delhi? It is indeed a historian’s paradise. It wouldn’t be wrong to say that history speaks out loud from every nook and cranny of the ancient city. The architectural mansions stand as a mute witness of the era gone by, the Mughal era. One of the most stunning pieces of Mughal Architecture is the Red Fort or the Lal Qila. Built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, around 1638 and 1648, it still stands tall and impressive.

Tourist Info:

• Location: Netaji Subhash Marg, Old Delhi


• Nearest airport: Indira Gandhi International Airport


• Timings: The fort is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each except Monday


• Nearest railway station: Old Delhi Railway Station


• Nearest metro station: Kashmir Gate


• Admission charges: The entry fee is 0.22 US $ for Indian Citizens and 2.04 US $ for foreign citizens with parking rates that begin from 0.20 US $ for 4 hours.


• Visitors can only explore a part of Red Fort; the rest area is occupied by the army.

White structure within the Red Fort:

Most people have the illusion that there are only red structures within the Red Fort. But as you explore into the mansion, you will come across some ethereal white structures too.

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The Entry Gate:

Lahori Gate, also known as the Chatta Chowk forms the entry to this splendid fort. Lal Quila now houses a busy market place known as the ‘Meena Bazaar’. This bazaar is famous for its excellent collection of antiques, miniature paintings and skillfully crafted fake ivory jewelry. Besides this, there are three more gates, which remains closed.

Five reasons to visit the Red Fort:

Some of the buildings inside the Red fort and their significance in history are:

Diwan-i-Am: Diwan-i-Am, also called as the Hall of Public Audience, originally had a courtyard on its front and was ornately decorated with gilded stuccowork. The main hall had heavy curtain drapes.

Hamam: Accompanying the Diwan-i-Khas, is the Hamam (bathroom set). It consists of three apartments, which are interconnected by corridors. It boasts marble floors and dados, which are inlaid with striking floral patterns of multi-colored stones.

Moti Masjid: To the west of the Hamam lies the Moti Masjid or Pearl Mosque. It was the personal mosque of Mughal Emperor, Aurungzeb. The prayer-hall of the mosque has inlaid black-marble outlines and is surmounted by three bulging domes.

Mumtaz Mahal: Mumtaz Mahal or Chhoti Baithak, is one of the original six chief palaces situated along the river front. This palace has been removed as it was in ruins.

Naubat Khan: Naubat Khana or Naqqar Khana (the Drum House) is situated at the entrance of the palace area. The significance of this hall was that, musicians used to play music here five times a day at the selected hours.

The sense of mysticism and history that the aura within the mansion brings along is unexplainable. You will cherish you visit to the Red Fort throughout your life!

 “Know more by clicking on the below Video”

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Words fall short when it comes to describing the magnificence of the Taj Mahal – the wonder of wonders. The Taj has made men amaze at the unfathomable love Shah Jahan had for his wife, Mumtaz Mahal. And it has made women wish to die to have such a mansion built on them. Such is the grandeur of Taj Mahal, the eternal symbol of love! A mansion  built by the Mughal Emperor, Shah Jahan, for his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal (Arjumand Bano Begum) who died while giving birth to their 14^th child.

Tourist Info:

• Timings: 6am to 7pm (closed on Fridays and public holidays)
• Entry Fee: Free for children below 12 years of age
• Non-Indians: 5 US$
• Indians: From 8am to 4pm – 0.31 US$
• Indians: From 6am to 8am and 4pm to 7pm – 0.20 US$

Facts about the Taj Mahal:

• Duration of construction: 1631- 1653 (22 years)
• Labors used: 20,000 workers.
• Chief architect: Ustad Isa Khan
• Location: Banks of River Yamuna in Agra, India
• Area: 42 acres.
• Architectural style: Islamic

Taj Mahal comprises five major constituents:

1. Darwaza (The main gateway)
2. Bageecha (The gardens)
3. Masjid (The mosque)
4. Naqqar Khana (The rest house)
5. Rauza (The main mausoleum)

It is believed that Shah Jahan ordered that the craftsmen’s and architect’s hands be chopped off after the building Taj Mahal.

The secret of the Third Grave:

It is customary of the Mughal Tombs to have the third set of graves, however it is absent here. The doors that are believed to lead to the third have been permanently blocked.

The scholars believe that Taj has the traditional third set of graves existing somewhere in the underground vaults. However this mystery remains a mystery forever. There are only two graves found in the Taj, that of the Emperor and his Queen.

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Unbelievable but true!

Do you know that the main gateway of the Taj Mahal is adorned with Hindu motifs along with Arabic calligraphy of verses from the Quran?  The main gateway sports an image of a white teardrop with a red trident. These motifs of the gateway reflect a Hindu touch. There are also images of red lotus flowers that represent Lord Brahma. All these point towards a Hindu influence in the construction of Taj Mahal.

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Myths related to the Taj:

• There is a popular myth that Shah Jahan wished to construct a Black Taj Mahal, which would house his tomb. But no such evidences were found

• P.N. Oak, an Indian writer claimed that the Taj Mahal is a corrupt form of the sanskrit term ‘TejoMahalay’ which signifies a Shiva Temple.

It’s rightly said that ‘you may leave the Taj Mahal’ but the ‘Taj Mahal’ will never leave you. Visit it yourself to experience the wonder Taj holds!

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Interior of Taj Mahal