This is the travel guide and infomation to Battambang Province. Battambang province has changed hands on serveral occassions in the past few centuries between Thailand and Cambodia, Cambodian control returned in 1907 but as recently WWII the Thais cut a deal with Japanese to take control again for several years. Before Cambodia’s civil war, Battambang province was the largest and richest province in Cambodia, but ceded a large chunk of its territory to Banteay Meanchey for the creation of the new province. It shares along border with the Tonle Sap Lake and is the fifth largest province in the country.
Battambang province was untouched for much of the early 1970s, as fighting ranged elsewhere around the country. For this reason the whole area was viewed with much suspicion by Khmer Rouge leaders and was the victim of successive purges carried out by Pol Pot loyalists. Life was little better after war, as the ongoing guerrilla was and the proliferation of thousands of land mines devastated the agricultural industry that has built the province’s economy. However, it is slowly recovering as demining groups free up land for agriculture and the many refugees who returned here during the 1990s are permanently settled. Tourism has a lot of potential, as not only is the provincial capital a popular stop, but there are extensive examples of Angkorian heritage in the surrounding countryside.
Travel around Battambang province has traditionally been slow due to poor road, NH5, passing through the heart the province, is in top condition, but NH57 to Pailin is a real disaster.
Battambang province is Cambodian’s second-largest city in an elegant river side town, home to some of the best-preserved French period architecture in the country and to warm and friendly inhabitants. Battambang province is now back on the overland travel map and it makes a great base from which to explore nearby temples and scenic villages. There is a popular boat service connecting Battambang province and Siem Reap province, probably the most scenic river trip in the country.
Wat Ek Phnom Temple, Battambang Province Wat Ek Phnom temple is an atmospheric but dilapidated 11th-century temple dating from the reign of Suryavarman I. It is something of a disappointment after Angkor, but the attractive ride out here on a winding road following the banks of Stung Sangke makes the trip worth the time, especially towards sunset. It is a very popular picnic and pilgrimage spot of Khmers during festival times.
Wat Phnom Sampeau Temple, Battambang Province
Wat Phnom Sampeau temple, a hill top temple on top of a striking limestone outcrop, is 18km southwest of Battambang. It was formerly the front line in the government’s defense of Battambang.
There is a long, hot climb to reach the summit, which is topped by both a small Wat and Stupa. Nearby are a couple of large field guns, a hangover from the long civil war. Unless you are on a fitness drive, it may be better to take the winding road up the left side of the mountain and come down the main stairs. The gentler, winding road comes out at grisly killing field located in a couple caves. A small staircase leads down to a platform covered in the skulls and bones of victims. Look up to the right and there is a skylight hole where victims were bludgeoned before being thrown into the cave beneath.
There is another mountain nearby, called Crocodile Mountain, which was often occupied by the Khmer Rouge during the civil war. From here they would lob shells at government troops guarding Wat Phnom Sampeau.
Wat Banan Temple, Battambang Province
Wat Banan temple has five towers pointing skyward and is like a smaller version of the rather more illustrious Angkor Wat, in fact, the inspiration for Angkor Wat, but this is a tad optimistic as there are considerable differences in size and scale.
Built in the 11th century by Udayadityavarman II, son of Suryavarman I, It is in a considerably better state of repair than Wat Ek Phnom, and its hillside location offers incredible views across the surrounding countryside. There are several impressive carved lintels above the doorways to each tower, although most are now housed in Battambang Museum. There is also a large field gun, dating back to the bad old days when the government had to defined this hill from Khmer Rouge.
Kamping Poy, Battambang Province Kamping Poy is the site of both a recreational lake and one of the Khmer Rouge’s grander schemes – a massive hand-built dam stretching for about 8km between two hillsides. Some locals claims the dam was intended as a sort of final solution for enemies of the revolution, who were to be invited to witness its inauguration but would instead be drowned following the detonation of dynamite charges. Its was more likely another step on the road to re-creating the complex irrigation network that Cambodia enjoyed under the kings of Angkor. Whatever the truth, as many as 10,000 Cambodians are thought to have perished during its construction, worked to death under the shadow of executions, malnutrition and disease. Today the lake is a popular swimming spot for locals at the weekend. It is possible to rent a local boat for short trip around the lake. Try to negotiate a price of something like 4000r per hour.
Kamping Poy is 36km southwest of Battambang down a rough road that start on the right just beyond Wat Phnom Sampeau.
Sneng Temple, Battambang Province
This is a small, nondescript town on NH57 to Pailin, but it’s home to two small yet interesting temples. Prasta Yeay Ten dates from the end of 10th century and although little more than a pile of blocks, has three elaborately carved lintels above the doorways that have somehow survived the ravages of time and war. The temple clings to the left-hand side of the highway, so close to the road that it could pass as an Angkorian-era tollbooth!
Behind Prasat Yeay Ten is a contemporary Wat, and tucked away at the back of this compound are three brick sanctuaries with some beautifully preserved carving adorning the entrances. The sanctuaries look like pre-Angkorian Chenla temples, but given the limited Chenla presence in western Cambodia, it is possible they date from the same period as Prasat Kravan at Angkor, around the realy part of the 10th century. Sneng is about 26km southwest of Battambang.
Pailyn City
Pailin has an attractive location amid the foothills of Chuor Phnom Kravanh, but the town itself lacks major attractions unless you know a bit about gemstones or like hanging out with geriatrics responsible for mass murder. It may start to see more traffic now that the neaby border crossing at Pruhm – Daun Lem is open to international traffic.
This small town near Thai border has bountiful gem and timber resources, long the economic crutch that kept the Khmer Rouge hobbling along. It was used as a base from which to launch that regular dry-season offensives against government positions in and around the province of Battambang. Government forces managed to take Pailin in the summer of 1994, but the Khmer Rouge massed for a counter attack and chased the army all the way up to Wat Phnom Sampeau. However, in August 1996, Ieng Sary, former brother No.3 during the Khmer Rouge regime and Khmer Rouge supreme in these parts, defected to the government side, bringing with him up to 3000 fighters and their dependants. This was critical in bringing about the eventual demise of the Khmer Rouge, as it cut off much-needed sources of revenue for fighters in the north and allowed the army to concentrate its resources on one front.
Pailin’s fortunes rose dramatically in the late 1990s as gem dealers flocked into town and casinos opened to milk cash from Thai gamblers. However, much of this freewheeling’ activity has moved back to the border area where large casino are more convenient for Thais. Today, Pailin is a subdued Wild West town in which former leaders of the Khmer Rouge seek haven, avoiding the long arm of international law.
To stay in Battambang for a couple days, then you will visit to the other attractive places such as local villages where is made a local red and white wine from rambutan, many other interesting Wats, daily life of the local people...
Prek Toal Bird Sanctuary, Battambang Province
Prek Toal is one of three biospheres on Tonle SapLake, and the establishment of its bird sanctuary makes Prek Toal the most worthwhile and straightforward to visit. It is an ornithologist’s fantasy, with magnificent number of rare breeds gathered in one small area, including the huge lesser and greater adjutant storks, the milky stork and the spot-billed pelican.
Visitors during the dry season (December to May) will find the concentration of birds like something out of a Hitchock film. As water starts to dry up elsewhere, the birds congregate here.
