Main image

Xufanc CC BY-SA 4.0 Wikimedia Commons

Phnom Kulen

Mountain

Phnom Kulen plateau north of Siem Reap holds waterfalls, a reclining Buddha and the River of a Thousand Lingas carved into a sandstone riverbed; visitors hike, picnic and visit pilgrimage sites.

Phnom Kulen Map data © OpenStreetMap contributorsSiem ReapAngkor WatBayonTa ProhmAngkor Archaeological ParkBanteay KdeiAngkor Thom Royal SquarePrasat Baksei ChamkrongPhimeanakasTa KeoThommanonPhnom KromPrasat KravanPhnom Kulen
In this guide

Phnom Kulen essentials

Address: Phnom Kulen (Kulen Mountain/Park), Siem Reap province, Cambodia
GoogleAppleOSM

About Phnom Kulen

Phnom Kulen is a sacred mountain and national park in Siem Reap province known for its religious sites, riverbed carvings, waterfalls, and association with the founding of the Khmer polity. The plateau area contains important carved sites and pilgrimage locations.

Visitors walk to a large hilltop pavilion containing the Preah Ang Thom reclining Buddha, swim at a popular waterfall, and view carved motifs and lingas cut into the sandstone riverbed upstream. The area combines natural attractions with archaeological carvings and active religious practice.

Phnom Kulen is traditionally regarded as the place where Jayavarman II declared himself a devaraja or king in the early 9th century, marking the start of the Angkorian era. Later kings added carvings, temples, and works on the plateau, and the site has remained important in Cambodian religious memory.

The Kulen plateau lies north of the Angkor plain in Siem Reap province within a protected national park and is reached by road from Siem Reap.

  • Sacred birthplace of Khmer polity: Considered the sacred birthplace of the Khmer Empire after Jayavarman II’s declaration in 802, the mountain has both archaeological and contemporary religious significance.

What to See#

  • Preah Ang Thom reclining Buddha: Preah Ang Thom - a large, carved reclining Buddha housed in a hilltop pavilion that is a focal point for visitors and local pilgrimage.
  • River carvings and waterfall: Waterfall and river carvings area where carved lingas and other religious motifs are cut into the sandstone riverbed upstream, popular for short hikes and swimming in designated spots.
Things to Do
When to Go

Best Time to Visit Phnom Kulen

Visit November-February for the most comfortable hiking and drier trails; if you want full waterfalls, go during or just after the wet season.

Dry / Best hiking
November-February · ~20-30°C
Drier trails and milder temperatures make hikes and visits to waterfalls and sacred sites easier and more comfortable.
Wet / Waterfalls full
May-October (peak Aug-Oct) · ~24-32°C
Waterfalls and rivers are at their most impressive after rains, but trails can be muddy and slippery.
Hot / Hottest months
March-May · ~25-36°C
Very warm, humid conditions; mornings are the best time for outdoor activities to avoid heat.

Weather & Climate near Phnom Kulen

Climate

Phnom Kulen's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in April) and warm winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 17°C to 33°C. Abundant rainfall (1370 mm/year), wettest in September with a pronounced dry season.

Air Quality: AQI 74 Moderate
Best Time to Visit
JanuaryFebruaryDecember
Temperature & Rainfall
Temperature Range
44°
Warmest Month
12°
Coldest Month
Monthly Conditions
Month Comfort Temp Feels Rain Sky Humidity Wind UV Daylight
January Ideal 17° - 29° 23° 1 mm some cloud 59% 1.4 m/s 1.8 very high 11.3h
February Ideal 19° - 31° 25° 6 mm some cloud 53% 1.4 m/s 1.9 very high 11.6h
March Excellent 22° - 32° 28° 31 mm partly cloudy 55% 1.4 m/s 1.9 very high 11.9h
April Very Good 23° - 33° 30° 71 mm partly cloudy 63% 1.4 m/s 2.1 extreme 12.3h
May Acceptable 23° - 32° 30° 150 mm overcast 74% 1.6 m/s 2.2 extreme 12.6h
June Good 23° - 30° 27° 181 mm overcast 81% 1.6 m/s 2.2 extreme 12.8h
July Good 22° - 30° 26° 192 mm overcast 85% 1.8 m/s 2.1 extreme 12.7h
August Good 23° - 30° 26° 204 mm overcast 86% 1.6 m/s 2.1 extreme 12.4h
September Good 22° - 29° 26° 294 mm overcast 87% 1.3 m/s 1.9 very high 12.1h
October Good 22° - 29° 25° 176 mm overcast 84% 1.2 m/s 1.9 very high 11.7h
November Excellent 20° - 28° 24° 56 mm partly cloudy 79% 1.5 m/s 1.8 very high 11.4h
December Ideal 18° - 28° 23° 8 mm some cloud 69% 1.8 m/s 1.7 very high 11.2h
Getting There & Around

How to Get to Phnom Kulen

Phnom Kulen (Kulen National Park) is north of Siem Reap and is normally visited as a day trip by car, minivan or organized tour. Expect roughly a 1.5-2 hour drive from Siem Reap over a mix of paved and rough roads to the park area; once there you will usually park and walk short distances (up to a few hundred metres) to waterfalls, viewpoints and the riverbed carvings. 4x4 or tour operators are recommended for the final stretch in the rainy season.

Tips for Visiting Phnom Kulen

  • Start early for Phnom Kulen to beat the heat and to reach the waterfalls and river carvings before heavier vehicle traffic arrives; the highland park is spread out so early access lets you cover multiple highlights in one trip.
  • Allow extra travel time and use a 4x4 or motorbike-roads into the park can be rough and sites (waterfall, river of lingas, reclining Buddha) are dispersed, so prearrange transport and a local driver who knows the best sequence of stops.