Pol Pot's Grave Travel Guide

Located just 13kms to the north of Anlong Veng, the grave of Pol Pot is visited by few visitors to Cambodia. While he may still have a few supporters, Pol Pot, who was better known as Brother Number One, was the leader of the Khmer Rouge and responsible both directly and indirectly for an unimaginable number of deaths during his reign of terror.

After his death, the ashes of Pol Pot were separated into three parts and scattered at Tonle Sap, in northern Ratanakiri Province and at this scenic spot, which is located in the Dongrek Mountains. However, it wasn’t until several years later that the tin hut that shelters this grave as well as a spirit house were built. Bizarrely, they were constructed as a tribute by a Thai lottery winner, who claims to have been told the winning numbers in a dream by Pol Pot himself.

While few Cambodians would ever dream of visiting this site, it is a pilgrimage site for a number of Thai people, who believe that paying tribute here will bring them good luck and perhaps help them to win the lottery themselves.

The grave is located about 50 meters off the road, close to the Thai border. Visitors should take particularly care here as this area was covered with landmines in the past and has yet to be cleared extensively. It is best to stick to well-worn paths and perhaps take a guide along who knows the area well.

In brief

What is it? The final resting place of the former leader of the Khmer Rouge.


Opening hours: 24 hours, daily.


Entrance fees: no entry charge.


Address/website: www.travelfish.org/sights/cambodia/western_cambodia/oddar_meanchey/anlong_veng.

Where: Oddar Meancheay district in the picturesque west of Cambodia.

How to get there: taxi a taxi or hire a bicycle from the town of Anlong Veng (25 to 40 minutes). Anlong Veng receives taxis from Siem Reap, with the journey taking up to 6 hours.