Cambodia: What to See, Between Temples and Sea

Cambodia is a Southeast Asian nation whose landscape stretches across low plains, the Mekong Delta, mountains and the coast of the Gulf of Thailand. Phnom Penh, its capital, is home to the art deco central market, the glittering Royal Palace and the historical and archaeological displays of the National Museum. In the north-west of the country lie the ruins of Angkor Wat, an imposing stone temple complex built during the Khmer Empire.

In the south of the country are the beaches and boisterous bars of Sihanoukville province, while along the southern coast the town of Kep mixes today's resorts with the ruins of those from its time under French rule. Ecotourism thrives in the mangrove forests of Koh Kong province and in the Cardamom Mountains, and in the remote north-east, where jungle and dense villages dot the Mekong. Cambodian cuisine, less spicy than that of some of its Southeast Asian neighbours, ranges from steamed curry dishes to fried tarantulas, while baguettes and coffee remain a French colonial legacy.

Sihanoukville

Sihanoukville, also known as Kampong Som, is a port city and beach resort on the Gulf of Thailand. The great attraction here is the white-sand beaches and numerous undeveloped tropical islands.

Tonlé Sap

Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and is of great importance to Cambodia. The lake expands and shrinks dramatically with the seasons. From November to May, Cambodia's dry season, the Tonlé Sap flows out into the Mekong River at Phnom Penh. However, when the year's heavy rains begin in June, the flow of the Tonlé Sap changes direction and a huge lake forms. Tonlé Sap is home to many Vietnamese and numerous Cham ethnic communities, who live in floating villages around the lake.

Silver Pagoda

Located within the Royal Palace complex in Phnom Penh, the Silver Pagoda houses many national treasures such as golden Buddha statues and jewels. The most notable is a small 17th-century crystal Buddha (the Emerald Buddha of Cambodia) and a life-size golden Maitreya Buddha decorated with 9584 diamonds. The inner wall of the Silver Pagoda's courtyard is decorated with a richly coloured and detailed mural of the Ramayana myth, painted in 1903-04 by 40 Khmer artists.

Bayon Temple

Part of the world-famous Angkor destination, the Bayon temple features a sea of more than 200 massive stone faces looking in every direction. The curious smiling faces, which many believe to be a portrait of King Jayavarman VII or a combination of him and Buddha, are an instantly recognisable image of Angkor. Built in the 12th century by King Jayavarman VII as part of a massive expansion of his capital Angkor Thom, the Bayon is built at the exact centre of the royal city.

Angkor Wat

Angkor Wat (meaning "Temple of the City") is the largest of all the Angkor temples and the main tourist attraction in Cambodia. Built around the first half of the 12th century by King Suryavarman II, the balance, composition and beauty of the temple make it one of the most beautiful monuments in the world. A huge rectangular reservoir surrounds Angkor Wat, which rises through a series of three rectangular terraces to the central sanctuary and the 213-metre-high tower. This layout reflects the traditional Khmer idea of the temple-mountain, in which the temple represents Mount Meru, the home of the gods in Hinduism.