Pol Pot's Grave

Pol Pot’s Grave marks the burial place of Pol Pot, the leader of the Khmer Rouge, and is located in Oddar Meanchey province, Cambodia. The grave denotes where he was buried following his death in 1998.

The site is a small gravesite in a rural, forested area often visited by those interested in Cambodia’s recent history; there are no formal museum facilities on site. Visits are typically brief and are combined with visits to other Khmer Rouge-era locations in the Anlong Veng area.

Pol Pot died in 1998 while in the Anlong Veng area; his burial took place locally and the site has since been identified and visited by researchers, journalists and some tourists. The location is tied to the late-stage activities of the Khmer Rouge leadership.

The grave lies in the Anlong Veng district of Oddar Meanchey province in northwestern Cambodia, a remote border region near the Thai frontier, accessible by road from nearby towns.

• Location and access: Located near Anlong Veng in Oddar Meanchey province, the site is in a remote area accessible by road from Samraong and Anlong Veng.
• Visitor note: The gravesite is a point of historical interest rather than a commemorative monument; visitors should be respectful given the site’s political sensitivity.

Brother Number One, Pol Pot, led the Khmer Rouge and died near Anlong Veng in 1998, before he could stand trial for the deaths of an unimaginable number of Cambodians. His grave lies about 13 kilometres north of the town, in a scenic spot along the Dangrek Mountains, and is suitably plain and decrepit.

After his death, Pol Pot’s ashes were divided into three and scattered in the Tonle Sap, in northern Ratanakiri province and here. Only several years later were the tin shelter over the grave and a small spirit house built, and, bizarrely, they were erected as a tribute by a Thai lottery winner who claimed Pol Pot had given him the winning numbers in a dream. Few Cambodians would ever visit, but the grave has become a pilgrimage site for some Thai visitors hoping that paying their respects will bring good fortune. The grave sits about 50 metres off the road, close to the Thai border; much of this region remains uncleared of landmines, so it is essential to keep to the well-trodden path.

Pol Pot’s grave is in the Anlong Veng area of Oddar Meanchey province, close to the former Khmer Rouge stronghold. Access is by road: most visitors travel overland from Siem Reap (a multi‑hour drive, commonly 3-5 hours by private car, minivan or tour vehicle) or by road from other northern Cambodian towns. Once in Anlong Veng town, the grave and related sites are reached by short local rides (tuk‑tuk or moto‑taxi) into nearby forested areas; expect a short drive and a walk at the site.

• Plan your visit from Anlong Veng (northern Oddar Meanchey): most visitors combine Pol Pot's sites into a half‑day circuit around Anlong Veng and start early to avoid heat and maximize daylight.
• Hire a knowledgeable local guide in Anlong Veng to provide context and to ensure respectful behaviour at sensitive sites-explanatory local guides are the common way tourists see these locations.
• Combine the grave/house visit with nearby ruins and Khmer Rouge-era sites in the same area to make the remote trip more worthwhile, since facilities on site are minimal.