Kampong Cham, located on the banks of the Mekong River, is 124 kilometers northeast of Phnom Penh and can be reached by boat or car in 2.5 hours. ‘Kampong’, derived from a similar Malay word meaning ‘village’, and ‘Cham’ is a reference to the Cham ethnic group of Champa.
What are things to do in Kampong Cham? From exploring temples and learning about the history and culture of the region to relaxing on the banks of the Mekong and enjoying local delicacies, there are plenty of things to do and see in Kampong Cham.
To start off your visit, head to the nearby Wat Nokor Bachey, a stunning 11th century temple dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva. The temple has a number of statues, carvings, and murals depicting scenes from Hindu mythology. After exploring the grounds, you can take a leisurely stroll through the nearby markets and take in the sights and smells of the local cuisine.
For a more active experience, visitors can take a boat ride along the Mekong River. Here, you can observe the stunning landscape of the river, which is dotted with floating villages, temples, and even a few stilt houses. Keep an eye out for birds and other wildlife, and be sure to stop at the various islands and villages along the way.
Back on land, be sure to visit the nearby Wat Preah Theat, a beautiful temple built in the 16th century featuring intricately carved wooden panels and statues depicting scenes from the life of Buddha.
After a day of sightseeing, take a break and sample some of the delicious local food. Kampong Cham is known for its seafood dishes, so take your pick from the many restaurants along the river.
No visit to Kampong Cham is complete without taking some time to relax. Head to the nearby Koh Ksach Tonle Sap, a beautiful island known for its breathtaking sunsets and vibrant nightlife. Here, you can sit back and enjoy a few beers and watch the sun slowly set over the river.
Let’s discover things to do in Kampong Cham when you travel to Cambodia here!
Nokor Bachey Temple
Nokor Bachey Temple, situated 2.2 kilometers from Kampong Cham provincial town along National Road 7, is an important cultural and historical site. Located 122 kilometers northeast of Phnom Penh, visitors traveling from the capital will see the entrance gate to the pagoda on their right. Built in the middle of the 11th century during the reign of Suryavarman II and King Ouphey, the temple is dedicated to Brahmanism and is accessible to almost all types of vehicles. With a journey of 200 meters inside the gate, this famous site is a must-visit destination in Cambodia.
Nokor Bachey Temple of Kampong Cham is renowned for its majestic and impressive architecture. The first long building is 421 meters and 371 meters in dimension, constructed of laterite stones, with a height of 9 meters and length of 2.4 meters. Unfortunately, over time, much of this structure has been destroyed. Inside, visitors will find a variety of carvings and statues, such as Six Lions, Eight Dragons and Two Devils.
The Second long building is equally remarkable, featuring two statues of Te Cho Dam Din, each 1.6-meters in height, as well as two ponds measuring 20 meters each. The Third long building is particularly noteworthy, with its Eight-hand statue of Preah Norey located near the entrance. On the left of the temple, a Four-hand statue of Preah Norey can be found.
The Fourth long building is made of laterite stone and can be accessed from 12 directions. In its centre is a high peak, made of sandstone, with a Buddhist statue. Visit to Nokor Bachey Temple is the prime thing to do in Kampong Cham for people who travel to Cambodia.
Wat Preah Theat
The ancient Wat Preah Theat Thma Da temple is located in the Preah Theat Thma Da village, Preah Theat commune, O’Rang Oav district, around 38 kilometers southeast of Kampong Cham provincial town. Travellers can reach the site by taking National Road 7 from Kampong Cham town and turning right onto National Road 11, then driving 8 kilometers down a dirt trail.
The temple is 190 meters long and 60 meters wide, and includes Preah Theat temple and Tonle Sa Ngout, a pond measuring 180 meters wide and 950 meters long, with crystal clear water. Along the entrance is the Preah Vihear Preah Chul Nipean temple. Unfortunately, a statue of the reclining Buddha reaching nirvana was stolen from here.
At Wat Preah Theat Thma Da in Cambodia, there are statues of Atitep Vero, Kongchak, Hekpous, Srei Krupleak, Tuosmuk and Angkrong Pleung that local people worship. Behind the temple, there is a Meru Mena hall built during French colonial times.
At the entrance, there is a Meru with a sandstone-sculpted lintel (horizontal beam) that has been partially damaged. Inside Meru is a sculpture of Haothi Neang Umaparvati, which is venerated by Brahmans. It is said that if a coconut is dropped into the hole inside Meru, it will be found in the middle of the pond. Meru was built on the site of an earlier temple.
Thanks to its history and architecture, the ancient Wat Preah Theat Thma Da temple is underlined on the list of top things to see in Kampong Cham.
Preah Theat Teuk Chhar Temple
Preah Theat Teuk Chhar is an ancient site located 39 kilometers from Kampong Cham provincial town, in Prey Chhar district. It consists of temples constructed in AD 1005 during the reign of King Suryavarman I, as proposed by his adviser Chung Chheal (also known as Leaksintra). The temples are situated in Thmo Da village, Beung Nay commune and Thmei village, Krouch commune.
Visitors can reach Preah Theat Teuk Chhar by taking National Road 7 from Kampong Cham, turning right onto the provincial road and driving 13 kilometers before turning right again and driving another 5 kilometers along a canal trail. Leaksintra used his salesmanship to encourage local people to contribute to the temple building project, which was eventually completed.
The Sreipatresvara Shiva lingam and two statues of Paramesvara and Sarasvata are housed in one of the temples. Another, cavelike temple believed to be a home to a god is located close to a canal, a waterfall and is in a state of disrepair, with only one door frame remaining and overgrown with vegetation. To the right of this temple, the architect excavated a large pond called Leaksintrada and in its centre a golden Silva lingam was placed.
Around this temple, a village of wealthy people was formed and people from neighbouring villages were invited to live there, making it a heavily populated yet cheerful place. Leaksintra told the king of the settlement and the king visited to celebrate its inauguration in AD 1025. He gave generous gifts including 29 soldiers and a rice field that surrounded the temple.
Located outside of the city, traveling to Preah Theat Teuk Chhar temple is the right thing to do in Kampong Cham for people who like countryside scenery.
Phnom Srey and Phnom Pros
The two mysterious pagodas of Phnom Srey and Phnom Pros, located in Kro La commune, Kampong Siem district, Kampong Cham Province, stand atop two mountains approximately 500 meters northwest of 7 km from Kampong Cham. It is said that the pagodas have a legendary connection between Cambodian men and women, giving visitors a peaceful and captivating experience when visiting Kampong Cham.
A mountain-building competition between men and women was organised to decide who should make the marriage proposal. The two sides had one day to build the highest hill, and the loser would be the one to ask for the other’s hand in marriage. The competition was set to end when the Sirius Star rose (around 4AM).
The women had a plan to erect a lantern high, so when the men saw the light, they believed it was Sirius and stopped building. The women thus became the winners, and their hill was named Phnom Srei (Women’s Hill), while the men’s mountain was called Phnom Pros (Men’s Hill). This was a huge departure from the traditional Khmer custom of the man proposing marriage. From then on, it was accepted that if someone wanted to get married, they must be the one to propose.
Climb 308 steps to reach the top of Phnom Srei and enjoy the stunning views of Kompong Cham and the Mekong. Explore the pagodas and a strokeable Nandin statue, a sacred bull of Shiva. Local people visit during Khmer New Year and Pchum Ben festivals.
Phnom Pros is a much smaller mountain than Phnom Srei, standing at a height of around 30 metres. At its summit, you will find a five-tiered pagoda modeled on the Bontey Srey temple and two separate pagodas close to each other. One of them is the ancient two-peaked pagoda, built in Sang Kum Reas Niyum times, while the other is a newer construction. At its base lies a 15-metre-tall Keo So statue, constructed by the first abbot of the pagoda. Nearby, there is a Kot for the resident monks. The area between the two mountains, which used to be a battleground, now features a small, gilded brick stupa and a pile of skulls. You can walk between Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei, and explore other monuments such as a sculpture garden with a large Bayon-style head, a vivid new wat, a library, a Chinese cemetery and more.
For travelers who look for active experiences, trekking up the mountain to visit Phnom Srey and Phnom Pros will be a good choice during the journey in Kampong Cham.
Cheung Kok Village
Cheung Kok is a picturesque Cambodian village with a unique “community-based ecotourism” project. The village formerly relied on its surrounding rice fields for its sustenance, yet it came to acknowledge the need for diversification. Consequently, it collaborated with Amica, a French NGO, to establish a sustainable and just way to generate and distribute incomes.
You can visit the village independently and take a tour to see the artisans at work. There are signs all over the village indicating where you can find the silk maker, palm sugar producer, palm leaf weaver, the krama maker, or someone who can demonstrate rice cultivation.
For a more immersive experience, a guided tour of the village (lasting around one hour) is recommended. You may also partake in the village’s activities to gain a better understanding of their culture. Staying at one of the homestays is also an option – they cost just $5 a night. If you’re unable to stay here, you can still enjoy a traditional Khmer lunch with a host family for $4.
At the beginning of the village, there is a shop and visitor centre where you can purchase handmade items from artisans. All profits from the sale will be managed by a local committee and used to fund projects such as free Khmer and English lessons for kids, micro-finance support for artisans and people in the village, road and house improvements, and water supply initiatives.
In conclusion, Kampong Cham is a beautiful place with interesting things to do and see. From exploring temples and biking through the countryside, to sampling the local cuisine and admiring stunning sunsets, there’s something for everyone in this small city. So book your Cambodia Tour today and get ready to experience all that Kampong Cham has to offer!
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