Phnom Kulen National Park
ភ្នំគូលេន
The sacred mountain where the Khmer Empire was born, with a riverbed of carved lingas, a 16th-century reclining Buddha and swimmable waterfalls. It is a beloved holy site for locals.
Phnom Kulen lies about 50 km northeast of Siem Reap. In 802, Jayavarman II proclaimed himself 'king of the universe' here and broke away from Javanese rule. It is regarded as the birthplace of the Khmer Empire and remains a pilgrimage mountain for Cambodians today.
Highlights at the summit include the 'River of a Thousand Lingas,' whose creek bed is carved with lingas and deity images; the 16th-century reclining Buddha, Preah Ang Thom, built on a giant rock; and a two-tier waterfall. The lower tier is swimmable and busy with locals on weekends.
The uphill road is one-way with timed access, so ascent is usually in the morning and descent in the afternoon. You need to hire a car to get there. Admission costs about US$20 and is not included in the Angkor Pass.
Opening hours
Approx. 07:00–17:00 (ascent in the morning only)