Wat Phnom

Wat Phnom is the most important pagoda in Phnom Penh and, at 27 metres tall, the loftiest religious structure in the city. The temple stands on an artificial hill in the centre of a park close to Sisowath Quay on Street 94, marking the legendary birthplace of the capital.

Visitors climb the hill to a temple whose historical significance rather overshadows its physical beauty, though the surrounding parkland is picturesque and makes a pleasant spot for a picnic. Just opposite the south entrance stands a statue of Lady Penh, the legendary founder of the city, in a small park.

The temple is at its liveliest early in the morning and during full-moon holidays and national festivals. Be warned that an army of monkeys often descends on the park and helps itself to picnickers’ snacks, cameras and hats.

Founding legend. According to legend, a wealthy widow named Penh rescued Buddhist images from a nearby river and arranged them on the hill. A temple was built to hold the relics, and the settlement that grew around it was named after her: Phnom Penh, meaning “Penh’s hill”.

A temple through the centuries. Built in 1373, Wat Phnom has been renovated many times, though the original structure remains. The ashes of King Ponhea Yat, founder of modern-day Phnom Penh, are interred in the largest stupa, which is the focal point of the city’s celebrations during Cambodian New Year and Pchum Ben.

Making merit. Outside the temple, young boys offer visitors the chance to make merit by setting caged birds free, though the birds are trained to return to their cages. Donating to the temple is a more reliable way to earn good karma.