Phnom Kulen National Park is a National park in Cambodia. It is located in the Phnom Kulen (Khmer: ) mountain massif in Siem Reap Province. During Angkorian era the relief was known as Mahendraparvata (the mountain of Great Indra) and was the place where Jayavarman II had himself declared chakravartin (King of Kings), an act which is considered the foundation of Khmer Empire.
Phnom Kulen
This is where the 500-year long Age of Angkor began. Phnom Kulen is the mountain on which Jayavarman II initiated a royal ‘god of the king’ linga cult in 802AD, declaring a unified and independent Cambodia under a single ruler. Soon after, he moved his capital from Kulen to Roluos where it was to remain for almost a century before moving to the Angkor area. Several sited including hundreds of linga stands in the Siem Reap River, Waterfalls and active pagoda. It’s a bit over 50km each way from Siem Reap so set aside at least a half day fro the trip there and back. Regular admission ticket is not required. There is a separate entrance fee of $20 for Phnom Kulen.
Cambodia - Phnom kulen overview
Phnom Kulen is a mountain range of moderate height that stretches over 12.8 kilometers along the Angkor plain. It is located 48 kilometers north of Siem Reap and its name means "mountain of the lychees"". Phnom Kulen has a symbolic importance and it is venerated by Cambodians as it is the site where the Khmer empire originated. There is a sacred hilltop site on top of the range (also known as Phnom Kulen) and studies undertaken last century identified over 30 different temple ruins. However, the area has not been de-mined and it is not recommended to visit them without an expert guide.
Phnom Kulen tour notes
Phnom Kulen can only be reached by car and travelling from Siem Reap requires about an hour and a half. Take Sivatha road from the town center and turn right when you arrive to the Angkor Wat moat. Follow the paved road to Banteay Kdei and on the round about before Banteay Kdei turn right to a dirt road and follow the dirt road for 25 kilometers. Allow yourself at least half day for the visit if combined with other Siem Reap temples, further afield. Within the site you can also visit the Phnom Kulen reclining Buddha or the Phnom Kulen waterfalls.
Phnom Kulen history summary
Phnom Kulen is the birthplace of the Angkor era as it was here that Jayavarman II united the different states in the region and proclaimed independence from Java in 802AD. In a ceremony celebrated in the same year in the Phnom Kulen he proclaimed himself king and he built a temple called Rong Chen that would that would be where his royal linga was kept. The temple had a pyramidal shape resembling the Mount Meru.
Chup PreahChup Preah (Khmer: ជប់ព្រះ) is the plain spot where having cool water flows and is located at the mountain’s valley. Next to it, there is a rare big tree of Cham Pa having 0.7 meter diameter and 15-meter height. At Chup Preah, there is a big Buddhist statue and many other small statues made during 16th century.
Archaeological sites
Phnom Kulen National Park is located in Svay Leu District about 48 km from the provincial town of Siem Reap and about 25 km from Prasat Banteay Srey via Charles De Gaulle Road. At Phnom Kulen there are several attractive places
Chup Preah
Chup Preah (Khmer: ជប់ព្រះ) is the plain spot where having cool water flows and is located at the mountain’s valley. Next to it, there is a rare big tree of Cham Pa having 0.7 meter diameter and 15-meter height. At Chup Preah, there is a big Buddhist statue and many other small statues made during 16th century.
Linga 1,000 (Khmer:) is located on the mountain, along the Siem Reap River and has a lot of figures of Yoni and Linga spreading out at the bottom of the river.Terrace of Sdach Kamlung (Khmer: ព្រះលានស្តេចគំលង់) is a plain terrace having a small ruined temple made of solid brick at the middle; the study proves that the terrace was covered by lava for hundreds yearsinga 1,000
Preah Ang Thom (Khmer: ព្រះអង្គធំ) is an 8 meter tall statue of the reclining Buddha reaching nirvana. The statue is carved into a huge sandstone boulder. Preah Ang Thom is the sacred and worshipping god for Phnom Kulen. There are also two big trees of Cham Pa (Khmer: ដើមចំប៉ា) at nearby. Besides Preah Ang Thom, there are Chhok Ruot (Khmer: ឆ័តរួត), footprint of Preah Bat Choan Tuk (Khmer: បាតជើងព្រះបាទជាន់ទុក្ខ), Peung Chhok (Khmer: ពើងឆ័ត), Peung Ey So (Khmer: ពើងឥសូ) and Peung Ey Sey (Khmer: ពើងឥសី
Statue of the reclining Buddha in Wat Preah Ang Thom.
Waterfalls
There are two main waterfalls in Phnom Kulen Khmer
Phnom Kulen
This is where the 500-year long Age of Angkor began. Phnom Kulen is the mountain on which Jayavarman II initiated a royal ‘god of the king’ linga cult in 802AD, declaring a unified and independent Cambodia under a single ruler. Soon after, he moved his capital from Kulen to Roluos where it was to remain for almost a century before moving to the Angkor area. Several sited including hundreds of linga stands in the Siem Reap River, Waterfalls and active pagoda. It’s a bit over 50km each way from Siem Reap so set aside at least a half day fro the trip there and back. Regular admission ticket is not required. There is a separate entrance fee of $20 for Phnom Kulen.
Cambodia - Phnom kulen overview
Phnom Kulen is a mountain range of moderate height that stretches over 12.8 kilometers along the Angkor plain. It is located 48 kilometers north of Siem Reap and its name means "mountain of the lychees"". Phnom Kulen has a symbolic importance and it is venerated by Cambodians as it is the site where the Khmer empire originated. There is a sacred hilltop site on top of the range (also known as Phnom Kulen) and studies undertaken last century identified over 30 different temple ruins. However, the area has not been de-mined and it is not recommended to visit them without an expert guide.
Phnom Kulen tour notes
Phnom Kulen can only be reached by car and travelling from Siem Reap requires about an hour and a half. Take Sivatha road from the town center and turn right when you arrive to the Angkor Wat moat. Follow the paved road to Banteay Kdei and on the round about before Banteay Kdei turn right to a dirt road and follow the dirt road for 25 kilometers. Allow yourself at least half day for the visit if combined with other Siem Reap temples, further afield. Within the site you can also visit the Phnom Kulen reclining Buddha or the Phnom Kulen waterfalls.
Phnom Kulen history summary
Phnom Kulen is the birthplace of the Angkor era as it was here that Jayavarman II united the different states in the region and proclaimed independence from Java in 802AD. In a ceremony celebrated in the same year in the Phnom Kulen he proclaimed himself king and he built a temple called Rong Chen that would that would be where his royal linga was kept. The temple had a pyramidal shape resembling the Mount Meru.
Terrace of Sdach Kamlung
Chup PreahChup Preah (Khmer: ជប់ព្រះ) is the plain spot where having cool water flows and is located at the mountain’s valley. Next to it, there is a rare big tree of Cham Pa having 0.7 meter diameter and 15-meter height. At Chup Preah, there is a big Buddhist statue and many other small statues made during 16th century.
Archaeological sites
Phnom Kulen National Park is located in Svay Leu District about 48 km from the provincial town of Siem Reap and about 25 km from Prasat Banteay Srey via Charles De Gaulle Road. At Phnom Kulen there are several attractive places
Chup Preah
Chup Preah (Khmer: ជប់ព្រះ) is the plain spot where having cool water flows and is located at the mountain’s valley. Next to it, there is a rare big tree of Cham Pa having 0.7 meter diameter and 15-meter height. At Chup Preah, there is a big Buddhist statue and many other small statues made during 16th century.
Linga 1,000 (Khmer:) is located on the mountain, along the Siem Reap River and has a lot of figures of Yoni and Linga spreading out at the bottom of the river.Terrace of Sdach Kamlung (Khmer: ព្រះលានស្តេចគំលង់) is a plain terrace having a small ruined temple made of solid brick at the middle; the study proves that the terrace was covered by lava for hundreds yearsinga 1,000
Preah Ang Thom (Khmer: ព្រះអង្គធំ) is an 8 meter tall statue of the reclining Buddha reaching nirvana. The statue is carved into a huge sandstone boulder. Preah Ang Thom is the sacred and worshipping god for Phnom Kulen. There are also two big trees of Cham Pa (Khmer: ដើមចំប៉ា) at nearby. Besides Preah Ang Thom, there are Chhok Ruot (Khmer: ឆ័តរួត), footprint of Preah Bat Choan Tuk (Khmer: បាតជើងព្រះបាទជាន់ទុក្ខ), Peung Chhok (Khmer: ពើងឆ័ត), Peung Ey So (Khmer: ពើងឥសូ) and Peung Ey Sey (Khmer: ពើងឥសី
Statue of the reclining Buddha in Wat Preah Ang Thom.
Waterfalls
There are two main waterfalls in Phnom Kulen Khmer
- First waterfall: 4-5 meter tall and 20-25 meter wide during the dry and rainy seasons respectfully.
- Second waterfall: 15-20 meter tall and 10-15 meter wide during the dry and rainy seasons respectfully.
- Sieam Reap F Phnom Kolen (Mountain ) + Free Banteay Srey and
Our rates and vehicles with English speaking driver:
Price List:
- $20 For Motor Bike 1 person
- $50 For Car or Mini Van, 1-8 persons
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