Wat Phnom

Boasting a hilltop location overlooking the Cambodian capital of Phnom Penh, the Buddhist temple of Wat Phnom is one of Cambodia’s most-visited temples. Originally built in 1373, the sanctuary was reconstructed in 1998 and now provides a place for locals to celebrate Khmer festivals and make sacred offerings.

The Basics

Wat Phnom is almost always included on the itinerary of half- or full-day Phnom Penh tours, along with stops at the harrowing Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields of Choeung Ek, and the Royal Palace. If you prefer to customize your own sightseeing itinerary, visit Wat Phnom as part of a hop-on hop-off bus tour; you’ll have the freedom to disembark whenever an attraction captures your attention and travel around in air-conditioned comfort.

Things to Know Before You Go

• During national holidays, the temple can be very crowded.
• Watch out for the wild monkeys that like to steal food and bottled drinks.
• Be mindful of your belongings at busy periods.
• There’s a small admission fee.

How to Get There

Wat Phnom’s close proximity to the US Embassy, the French Colonial post office, and Raffles Hotel on Michael Howe Street makes it an ideal starting point for a tour of the city. The easiest way to reach the temple is by taxi or tuk-tuk, or as part of a guided tour.

The Legend of Wat Phnom

Local legend says that in 1373, following a flash flood, a wealthy widow named Daun Chi Penh found four bronze Buddha statues inside of a floating tree on the Tonle Sap River. She rallied the nearby residents and had them create an 88-foot (27-meter) mound, and then erected a shrine on top to hold the Buddhas. The hill is said to be the origin of modern Phnom Penh, which translates as Penh's Hill.