Cambodia is a Southeast Asian nation whose landscape spans low-lying plains, the Mekong Delta, mountains, and the Gulf of Thailand coastline. Phnom Penh, its capital, is home to the Art Deco Central Market, the glittering Royal Palace, and the National Museum’s historical and archaeological exhibits. In the country’s northwest are the ruins of Angkor Wat, a massive stone temple complex built during the Khmer Empire.

Like most Southeast Asia, Cambodia’s climate is hot and warm almost all year round. It is dominated by the annual monsoon cycle of rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from May to October and the dry season from November to April. The best months are from December to January, and the hottest is April. The average temperature is 27-28°c.

Cambodia’s total population is 17 million. Ninety percent of residents are Khmer; the remaining percentage includes Cham (Khmer Muslim), Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Phnorng, Kuoy, Stieng, Tamil, etc.

The Cambodian Riel is the national currency. However, USD is widely accepted. Please ensure it is in pristine condition, as some outlets will look over the legitimacy of the US dollar, and if they decide not to take it, it is within their rights.

Nonetheless, one can enjoy better value for money when using Riel.

The electric voltage for appliances is 230V, and the frequency is 50 hertz.

History:

After regaining Independence in 1953, the country resumed several names:

1. The Kingdom of Cambodia
(Under the Reachia Niyum Regime from 1953 to 1970);

2. The Khmer Republic
(Under the Lon Nol Regime from 1970 to 1975);

3. Democratic Kampuchea
(Under the Pol Pot Genocidal Regime from 1975 to 1979);

4. The People’s Republic of Kampuchea (1979-
1989);

5. The State of Cambodia (1989-1993);

6. The Kingdom of Cambodia (1993 until now).

The race that produced the great Builder of Angkor developed slowly through the fusion of Mon-Khmer racial groups during the first six centuries in Southeast Asia.

Under Indian influence, two principal centers of civilization developed. The older in the extreme south of the peninsula was called “Funan” (The name is a Chinese transliteration of the ancient Khmer form of the word “Phnom,” which means “hill”), a powerful maritime empire that ruled over all the shores of the Gulf of Siam. In the mid-sixth century, the Kambuja, who lived in the middle Mekong (North of present-day Cambodia), broke away from Funan. This new power, Chenla, absorbed the Funanese Kingdom quickly. In the late seventh century, Chenla broke into two parts: Land Chenla (To the north) and Water Chenla (To the south along the Gulf of Thailand), dominated by the Chinese. Land Chenla was relatively stable during the 8th century, whereas dynastic rivalries beset Water Chenla. Java invaded and took control of part of the country during this period.

At the beginning of the ninth century, the kings set up their respective capitals in the present province of Siem Reap. For nearly six centuries, the kings enriched the province by building temples one after another, each more sumptuous than the other. Two hundred temples are spread in the Angkorian area, some 400 square kilometers in the Siem Reap Province. The temples and their sanctuaries are best known for their architecture and sculptures.

The first founder of Angkor was King Jayayarman II (802-850), who built one of his residences on the plateau of the Kulen in 802. King Indravarman I (887-889), a nephew of King Jayavarman II, constructed a vast irrigation system at Lolei and then built the tower of Preah Ko in 879 and Bakong in 881. King Yasovarman (889-900), the son of King Indravarman I, dedicated the towers of Lolei to his memory in 893 and founded a new capital to the northwest, which was to remain the very heart of Angkor. He built the Eastern Baray,
a 7km X 2km size artificial lake.

King Harshavarman I (900-923), the son of King Yasovarman, who took to the foot of Phnom Bakheng, consecrated the little temple of Baksei Chamkrong and built Prasat Kravan in 921. King Jayavarman IV (928-941), uncle of King Harshavarman I, reigned in northeastern Cambodia near the present town of Koh Ker. He erected several majestic monuments. King Rajendravarman (944-968) returned to Angkor in 952 and built the Eastern Mebon and Prè Roup in 961. In 967, the Brahman Yajnavaraha, a high religious dignitary of royal blood, erected the temple of Banteay Srei, about 20 km northeast of the capital. King Jayavarman V (968-1001) founded a new capital around Takeo Temple.

King Suryavarman I (1002-1050) seized Angkor in the eleventh century and founded a glorious dynasty. At this time, the Gopura of the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom was completed with the sober pyramid of the Phimeanakas at its center. He also erected the temple of Phnom Chiso, some parts of Preah Vihear, and Preah Khan in Kampong Svay District.

King Udayadityavarman II (1050-1066), son of King Suryavarman I, built the mountain temple of Baphuon and Western Baray. King Udayadityavarman’s brother, King Harshavarman III, succeeded him and ruled from 1066 to 1080 when violent strife led to the dynasty’s fall. King Jayavarman VI (1080-1113) continued to build the Preah Vihear Mount in Vat Po and Phimai.
King Suryavarman II (1113-1150) extended his power from the coast of the China Sea to the Indian Ocean and built the temples of Angkor Wat, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, Preah Palilay, Preah Pithu and Banteay Samrè. After these dazzling achievements, the Khmer civilization began to decline due to internal strife and an attack by the Chams.

King Jayavarman VII (1181-1220) was the most fascinating personality in Khmer history. He re-established his rule over southern Indochina and is best known for his vast building program. He built Ta Prohm (1186) and Preah Khan (1191) to dedicate to his parents. Then he erected Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, the Terrace of the Leper King, the Terrace of the Elephants, Neak Pean, Ta Saom, Ta Nei, and a few monuments in other parts of the country. He founded his significant capital, Angkor Thom, in the center of which he built the Bayon temple with its two hundred stone faces.

Understandably, the country was exhausted after these enormous efforts. The decline of the Angkor era began after the death of King Jayavarman VII in the early thirteenth century. Due to the Siamese invasion and the limitations of the irrigation system, Khmer power declined so drastically that the king was finally obliged to move to the vicinity of Phnom Penh in 1431.

Then, resulting from a series of Siamese and Cham invasions, the country was placed as
a French protectorate in 1863.