🛕 Wat Phnom
វត្តភ្នំ
Province
Phnom Penh
Era
Post-Angkorian
Difficulty
🟢 Easy
Crowds
👥 Moderate
Key Facts
Built: 1373 (rebuilt multiple times)
Religion: Buddhist
Entry Fee: $1
Time Needed: 30–45 minutes
The legendary temple on a 27-meter hill that gave Phnom Penh its name — the most sacred site in the capital city.
Wat Phnom ("Hill Temple") is the tallest religious structure in Phnom Penh and the namesake of the capital city itself. According to legend, a wealthy woman named Daun Penh discovered four bronze Buddha statues washed up along the Mekong River in 1372. She had a small hill constructed to house them, and the settlement that grew around it became known as Phnom Penh ("Penh's Hill"). The current temple, rebuilt multiple times over the centuries, sits atop a 27-meter artificial hill in a pleasant park in the center of the city. The main vihara (prayer hall) features colorful murals of the Reamker and Jataka tales. The site is an important pilgrimage and prayer destination for locals, who come to make offerings and pray for good fortune. Resident monkeys inhabit the hillside.
Highlights
- ✦ Namesake of Phnom Penh
- ✦ Legend of Daun Penh
- ✦ City center hilltop temple
- ✦ Colorful Reamker murals
- ✦ Resident monkeys
- ✦ Local pilgrimage site
Best Time to Visit
Any time; festivals and Khmer New Year are particularly lively
Visitor Tips
- 💡 The entry fee is $1 for foreigners
- 💡 Watch for the macaque monkeys — they can be aggressive with food
- 💡 A great introductory Phnom Penh experience — combine with the riverside walk
- 💡 Come during a full moon for a more atmospheric visit
Nearby Temples
11.5750°N, 104.9225°E
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