Royal Palace

Phnom Penh's Royal Palace was exactly built by wood in 1434 for the King Ponnhea Yat, but he decided to return to Udong city. Then it was rebuilt in 5 years 1866-1870 by the best Khmer architects and constructors to become the brick Royal Palace like today with its original color and beauty. In 1813 it was called the citedal Banteay Keov (Glass Castle), fronts Samdech Sothiros boulevard between the streets 184 and 240. The Royal Palace is now home to the existing King Norodom Sihanouk, the most well-known politician of Cambodia and the Queen Norodom Monineath Sihanouk. There are totally about 15 halls in the Royal Palace: 1) Prasat Khemarin (Coronation Hall) was built in 1927-1930 where the King receives foreign dignitaries and senior gov't officials; 2) Prasat Chann Chhaya (Hall of the Moon Shadow) built in 1913-1917, used to catch the light of the Moon on the Lunar Day while upstairs used for all Royal Traditional Ballet Dancers; 3) Prasat Hor Preah Khan, built 1915-1917, was used to hold royal materials like swords, crowns, spears, hand-fans, gold shoes, clothes, etc.; 4) Prasat Hor Samran Phirum, 1915-1917, used to maintain all kinds of the royal traditional music instruments; 5) Prasat Sahak Metray, 1950, used as th grand room of King Sihanouk's mother; 6) Prasat Phok Chany, 1913-1917, used as the dining room of the King and Queen; 7) Prasat Preah Reach Damnak Chan, 1954-1959, used to show all foreign and local gifts to the Monarch; 8) Prasat Preah Vihear Sour, 1958, used to organize the Buddhist ceremony of the King; 9) Prasat Damnak Chumpoo, 1954, located in the north of Prasat Khemarin, now used as the Royal Cabinet of the Royal Palace Ministry; 10) Prasat Kunthek Bopha, 1956, used to mark King Sihanouk's daughter who was killed by dengue fever when she was in the age of 4; and many other prasats. When all travelers visit here, they feel to be coming back and living in the period of Napoleon.

The Royal Palace has 4 main entrance: 1) The eastern entrance is specifically used for the arrival of the Monarch, diplomatic corps, foreign dignitaries, gov't officials and special guests; 2) the west is the gate where used as the Death Gate for the dangerous culprits, criminals or prisoners who would be officially executed, but now King Sihanouk ordered to close this gate forever because Cambodia has no death sentence any more as defined in the Constitution of the KOC; 3) the first north called Ghost Gate is sued to march the dead of the royal family toward the Veal Preahmen yard for cremation; and the second north called Vihear Sour Gate is where the slightly-guilty individuals are sent out to clean their mistakes and become good citizens through Brahmanism and now changed into the Admin Office of the Royal Palace Ministry; and 4) the south is the gate where the King or Queen will meet local people to hear their hurt, misery and difficulties and gives them gifts and food.