Wat Phnom Pagoda

Set on top of a 27-meter-high tree covered knoll, Wat Phnom is the only hill in town. According to very old legend, the first pagoda on this site was erected in 1373 to house four statuettes of Buddha deposited here by the waters of the Mekong river and discovered by an elderly woman named PENH . The main entrance to Wat Phnom is via the grand eastern staircase, which is guarded by two big ancient lions and Naga balustrades. Today, many people come here to pray for good luck and success in school exams or business affairs. When a petitioners' wish is granted, they return to make the offerings, such as a bouquet of flowers or a cluster of bananas or a roasted pig, duck, or chicken which the spirits are said to be especially fond, promised when the request was made.

On the hill, 1) the vihara or temple sanctuary was rebuilt in 1434, 1806, 1894 and most recently in 1926. West of the vihara is 2) an enormous stupa containing the ashes of King Ponhea Yat, reigned in 1405 1467. In a small pavilion or courtyard on the southside of the passage between the vihara and the stupa is 3) a statue of a smiling and rather plump Madame PENH, who built Phnom Penh city. A bit to the north of the vihara and below, it is 4) an eclectic shrine dedicated to the genie Preah Chau, who is especially revered strongly by the Vietnamese. On either side of the entrance to the chamber in which a statue of Preah Chau sits are 5) guardian spirits bearing iron bats. On the tile table in front of the two guardian spirits are 6) drawings of Confucius (Khong Tu), as well as 7) two Chinese-styled figures of the sages Thang Cheng on the right and Thang Thay on the left. To the left of the central altar is 8) an eight-armed statue of Vishnu.

Down the hill from the shrine is a royal stupa sprouting full-size trees from its roof. For now, the roots are holding the bricks together in their net-like grip, but when the trees die the tower will slowly crumble. Curiously, visitors may see a circus group of Chinese kungfu persons who sell traditional medicine, beggars, street urchins, women selling drinks and children selling maps, books, birds in cages, you pay to set the bird free to get good luck and success in your life. They often pester every traveler hurrying to climb up the hill. You can have also a short elephant ride round the base of the hill, perfect for those elephant trekking photos without the accompanying sore butt. Wat Phnom is a very sentimental visiting site in Phnom Penh. If any travelers have the good opportunity to visait Phnom Penh, this area needs to be stopped because is the first place to establish the city originally.