Kulen Mountain

Kulen Mountain is located about 50 km northeast to Siem Riep province. Kulen mountain is a historical, cultural and natural resort which is widely regarded as the birth place of the ancient Khmer Empire. It was established during the Angkorian period by king Jayavarman II in the 9th century. It was named then as Mahendraparvada, a dedication to the Hindu God, Siva. During the reign of king ANG CHAN I at 16th century, the city Mandraparvada become a worshiping place for the Theravada Buddhism.

Kulen mountain is well known as a sacred place of the Khmer people. This fascinating area is now a National park boasting the Phnom Kulen Fall, the River of 1000 Lin-gas and the hilltop mountain of Wat Preah Ang Thom.

Phnom Kulen Water fall is a popular bathing and picnic site for locals and foreign visitors. It is busy during national holidays and religion festivals.Visit the fall during the rainy season to experience its full glory. The water fall is about 30 meters high. It also has many steps that visitors can enjoy to bath. The first step is low fall with the larges and smoothly rooks which is comfortable for bathing. At the second step the water is strong and high. It is the great place for whom like to swim. But be careful with the big rooks and water flow that can make accident.

At Kulen mountain, the River of 1000 Lin-gas is best viewed in the dry season when all of the riverbed carving are visible. These included some of the earliest known Lin-gas stand, images of Vishnu and various Apsara dancers.

Along the river, there are many souvenir carving made by local people, such as the Buddha carvings, the Lin-gas, and others things which visitors can purchase for present.

Wat Preah Ang Thom, close to the Phnom Kulen Falls, it is home to one of the largest statues of the Buddha in Cambodia. It built by carving from a mountain in the 16th century. The concrete stairway leading to the principal. Shrine affords good views of the surrounding jungle. There people can worship or pray to the Preah Ang Thom (big Buddha) or Preah Ang Phnom Kulen that they are belief sacred place.

When you are there, one more thing surprising you by fragrant flower the magnolia (Champa) near by concrete stairway. It is growing higher to the hill summit and fragrance surrounding of the sacred Buddha in every time. The care shrine said that, this flower was planted by King father Norodom Sihanouk since he was young at the first time he came here. Now the flower plant is about 70 years old.

Nowadays, Kulen mountain is a good place for holiday. There are many souvenir and refreshment stands at the entrance and each of the three sites has it own parking area.