7 Great Places to Visit in Cambodia!
If you wish to have an affordable but satiating holiday, loaded with some amazing food and drinks along with an unprecedented experience then you must consider Cambodia. Very few countries in the world have as much history and culture to offer, ranging from spirituality and religion to relics of our evolution.
Here are seven great places to visit in Cambodia. • Angkor Wat is undoubtedly the most popular attraction in Cambodia. Building in the twelfth century, the temple is one of a kind. The composition, the architecture, the detailing, the central shrine, the history and culture associated with it along with the myths make this temple a true heritage of Cambodia. Check into one of the boutique hotels in Siem Reap and begin your trip with Angkor Wat or leave it for the last leg of your stay. • Silver Pagoda in Phnom Penh is a treasure. Jeweled statues of the Buddha decked with gold, a baccarat crystal Buddha which is also known as the Emerald Buddha of Cambodia loaded with 9584 diamonds and the courtyard itself which details the myth of Ramayana would mesmerize you to the core.
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Bokor Hill Station is a place that you must visit, even if it is just to see what wars waged by humans can do to a perfectly noble intention and its subsequent creation. Developed by the French in the early twentieth century to escape the heat in Phnom Penh, the town buildings and the station are abandoned and eerie today. It had failed to endure the twin attacks, one by Japanese in 1940s and the other by Khmer Rouge in 1970s.
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Visit the quaint town of Kratie situated along the Mekong River. The French colonial buildings, the affordability of the place and the rare Irrawaddy dolphins have made Kratie very popular among backpackers.
• Check out the Prasat Thom at Koh Ker, the erstwhile capital of Khmer empire. The temple pyramid stands tall in the midst of the jungle. Do observe the Garuda atop the pyramid, which is a half bird and half man that according to mythical legends guards the place. • Banteay Srei is another interesting attraction. It is more than a thousand years old and very popular among tourists. The detailed architecture and the carvings, the sculptures and the fact that the temple has stood the test of time is itself a great wonder. • Bayon Temple is another piece of architectural wonder. More than two hundred larger than life stones sculpted as faces sport a smile and look at all directions. Some say the faces are of Buddha while some say they are of King Jayavarman VII. Some say the faces are a combination of both.