Battambang Province. Camboya

The name Battambang literally means “lost staff”, referring to an episode in Khmer history when King Dambang Kranhoung threw his wooden staff from Angkor and it was said t ohave landed here in Battambang, This commemorated by a huge black statue with a staff on a ceremonial tray, in honour of the staff-throwing king, erected in the center of town.

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Battambang Province: The Rice Bowl of Cambodia


Battambang, located in northwestern Cambodia, contains the second most populous city in the country after Phnom Penh. The provincial capital, also Battambang, has always been a popular destination for its nearby ancient temples, French colonial architecture, and Buddhist shrines.
Sitting on the Sangker River just south west of the Tonle Sap Lake, Battambang town is at the heart of Cambodia's 'rice bowl', and it maintains an untouched, bucolic feel. The streets are filled with remarkably well-preserved French colonial buildings alongside traditional Cambodian houses. The nearby countryside harbors old pagodas, Angkorian era ruins, caves, waterfalls, and Khmer Rouge period killing fields.

Places of interest in Battambang include 11th century temples such as the Baset Temple, Wat Ek, Prasat Banan and Prasat Snung and the Sek Sak natural resort which is a beautiful place any nature loving traveler would love to explore. This resort has remained a popular tourist spot for a long time. It lies on the banks of a river filled with lots of trees and green vegetation making this a scenic paradise.

Also in this province is Phnom Sampov which is famous its breathtaking panoramic sceneries, natural wells and a Buddhist temple. Then there is the charming Kamping Puoy Lake, a fabulous lake famous for its giant lotus flowers which are used to make an extraordinary fabric through a unique process of spinning and weaving the lotus fibers to make a new organic fabric.

Attractions in Battambang Province


Prek Toal

From Siem Reap you can make a daytrip to Prek Toal to see the impressive water bird spectacle, the pristine flooded forest, the traditional fishing and the traditional floating community. In the dry season (November – March) thousands of endangered species of birds, such as storks, adjutants, pelicans and ibises come to the area to breed in the sanctuary. Around the core area lie several fishing villages comprising 1200 families living in houses floating on a bamboo rafts or in houseboats, an adaptation to the ebb and flow of the lake.



Phnom Sampuov

The Phnom Sampuove is the natural resort located along the National Road No 57 (the former National Road No 10) at Sam Puoy commune (the high land having more than 100-meter height) approximately 12-kilometer distance from the provincial town of Battambang. On the top of Sam Puoy Mountain, there are temple and three natural wells, namely Pkar Slar, Lo Khuon and Ak So Pheak. Next to Sam Puoy Mountain, there are some main mountains, the natural sites like Phnom Trung Moan, Phnom Trung Tea and Phnom Neang Rum Say Sork. These mountains related to the Cambodia folk legend of Reach Kol Neang Run Say Sork.


Watt Ek Phnom

Watt Ek Phnom, a modern pagoda, sits next to some 11th century Angkorian ruins built as Hindu temples under Suryavarm I. The river road drive to Ek Phnom from Battambang passes through some absolutely beautiful countryside.


Sek Sak Resort

Sek Sak is a natural resort, which has been popular since before the civil war. Sek Sak stretches along the river bank full of plants, trees and bamboo-green nature.

Prasat Snung

Prasat Snung consists of three separated stupas made of brick in Snung pagoda’s area, Snung commune, Ba Nan District, about 22-kilometre (14 mi) distance from the provincial town. Based on the style of the gate, the temple is similar to other temples in 12th century.

Ba Set Temple

Ba Set Temple was built during the reign of King, Soriyak Varman I (1002–1050) and located on a hill at Ba Set village, Ta Pun commune in 15-kilometre (9 mi) distance from the provincial town. Ba Set temple adapts the architecture of 11th century temples. Next to the temple, there is a pond having 20-metre (66 ft) length 12-metre (39 ft) width and 10-metre (33 ft) depth. The pond is never dry, even in the dry season. In rainy season, the water level is higher than usual.

Museum of Battambang

The Museum of Battambang Province located downtown is relatively small but very interesting indeed. Many lintels are exposed as well as Buddha statues, figurines


Bamboo Train

Enjoy a unique experience on the “Bamboo Train” in the middle of the lush countryside.The Bamboo Train (unique in Cambodia and it’s at Battambang !) is a small motorized platform that follows in a few miles the narrow gauge railroad linking Phnom Penh to Battambang


Sangker River

Battambang city is built along the Sangker river. Because Sangker river and Tonle Sap Lake is connected, visitors can travel back and forth between Siem Reap and Battambang by boat through this beautiful waterway. On the both sides of the river, there are protected Wetlands and narrow bays, and the middle is the floating village of people who live with traditional mediocre lifestyle. August 1 is the deep water period, and taking a yacht back and forth is available, only 4 hours between Siem Reap and Battambang. Shallow water period, only the small boat is available, and the traveling period is yacht’s twice.

Phare Ponleu Selpak

It is situated in National Highway number 5, Anhchanh Village, O’Char Commune, Battambang. The nonprofit organization was founded in 1994, freely provides basic education to disadvantaged children, and is divided into 3 schools respectively training about traditional music, visual art and circus in order to promote local art development and help them to be self-relience. Visitors can visit their training daily. Graduates normally perform the circus, Khmer mythological drama and traditional music in the tent behind the school dormitory. The performance days are different every month, please visit the official website for detail: www.phareps.org .

Kamping Poy lake

The Kamping Poy lake was created by the Khmer Rouge using slave labour to build. Over 10,000 Cambodians died due to excessive labor and poor health during the construction of the dam, which was aimed to improve irrigations to the rice paddies. As a result, it is called “killing dam”. Ironically, the reservoir which is still being used nowadays has become people's picnic spot.
Heng Chheng crocodile farm.

There is a crocodile farm in Dam Spey Village, Slaket Commune, Battambang, and it is changed from the home back garden. The owner of the farm is Heng Chheng grandma who is Chaozhou people, and she can distinguish between each crocodile. The farm is freely opened for visitors to visit but does not have a sign, so it is best to ask local people to lead the way.

Information Provided by: www.tourismcambodia.org
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