PHNOM PENH & SURROUNDING
 
A minor hurdle to orientation in Phnom Penh is the frequency with street names and numbers get changed. The current denominations which date back to 1993, seem to have settled in, but there is still a chance again .The major boulevards of Phnom Penh run north-south, parallel to the banks of the Tele Sap and Bassac rivers. Monivong Blvd cuts north - south through the center of town, passing just west of the Phsar Thmei (New Market).
 
Royal Palace

The Royal Palace was built in 1866 under the reign of King Norodom and is located along the Sothearos Boulevard. Inside the Royal Palace, there are: - Tevia Vinichhay Temple: The place where the King is on throne. - Khemarin Temple: The place where the King and Queen live. - Somran Phirum Temple: The place where the King rides the Royal Elephant. - Hor aku or Hor Preah Khan: The place keeping the throne objects and accessories. - Chan Chhaya: The Royal dance hall for king and relatives and high-ranking officers. In front of the Royal dance hall, there is a platform for the King to hold the meeting with people and all levels of officials.

Wat Phnom

Back in 1372, Phnom Penh was a nameless and sparely inhabited places. It was merely a level piece of land to the west of what was then called Tonle Chab Chheam, or River of Blood - perhaps because of the number of battles that had taken place upstream and regularly stained its waters red with blood. The river was also called Tonle Chaktomuk, or river of Four Faces, due to the confluence of the Tonle Sap, Tonle Mekong and Tonle Bassac at this place. One day, a wealthy widow called Yeay Penh, or Daun Penh(Grandmother Penh) was walking by the river and noticed a large Koki tree log floating close to shore.
She called her neighbors to help it in, and in a hollow of the log she found four bronze statues of Buddha and one of stone. That signaled the birth of the city. The widow built a hill in an auspicious place and constructed a shrine on top to house the statues. This hill became the highest point of the area and was named Wat Phnom. Phnom means mountain or hill. Wat Phnom is now the heart of Phnom Penh - a city named after Yeay Penh and the hill she constructed.

National Museum

The National Museum offers very interesting exhibits of more than 5,000 artifacts, including an eight armed statue of Vishnu (from 6th or 7th century), a statue of Shiva (9th century), and a statue of Buddha dating from pre-Angkor period. Visitors can also see a statue of King Jayavarman VII (1181 to after 1201), who reconstructed the capital and Angkor Thom that was pillaged by Cham warriors in 1177. Jayavarman VII is the king credited with establishing a network of roads in Cambodia, using innovative building techniques to raise them above the
level of swamp and building sophisticated bridges. Also on display are pottery and bronze pieces dating back to the periods of Funan and Chenla (4th to 9th centuries). A massive population of bats estimated to
number more than one million, flies out from the museum's attic and circles the capital city of Phnom Penh before sunset and constitutes a spectacular sight for tourists. While Museum authorities want artifacts protected from bat droppings, wildlife advocates want these bats protected as well.

The Independent Monument

At the intersection of Norodom and Preah Sihanouk Blvd; it was build in 1958.
It is now also a memorial to Cambodia’s war dead and is sometimes known as the Victory Monument. Wreaths are laid here on national holidays.

  Phsar Thmei

(New Grand Market) is commonly referred to as the Central Market The front entrance to this amazing structure is flanked by legions of souvenir shops selling a daunting array of goods to suit almost any budget and taste. In the middle under the central dome are shops selling diamonds, precious stones, watches and gold and silver items. The eastern section of the building houses stalls offering silver and wood carvings . Here, one can also find silk product like the Sampots (Khmer skirts) and krama.