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Wat Phnom |
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story goes that Lady Penh discovered four Buddha statues in a koki tree
floating on the Mekong river. In 1372 she built a hill and a placed a
shrine on top of this to house the precious artefacts. In 1434, King
Ponhea Yat came and constructed the city which he gave the name Phnom
Penh. The shrine has been rebuilt many times, each new reconstruction more beautiful than the previous one. There is an altar for Yeay Penh ("grandmother Penh") between the stupa and the Vihear. People from Phnom Penh consider her as a powerful protective spirit of the town and they will offer for her and request her help for any major decisions. |
The large stupa contains the remains of King
Ponhea Yat (1405-1476) and
his royal family. Inside the stupa, there is a Buddha statue from the
Angkorean period. Wat Phnom ("Mountain Pagoda") is the heart of the city. At 27 metres above sea level, it is the highest point in the area. The huge clock, illuminated at night, on the base of the hill at the southern side, has become one of Phnom Penh's night-time landmarks. |
