What Is Phnom Kulen National Park?
Phnom Kulen National Park is the holiest site in Cambodia and the birthplace of the Khmer Empire!
What Makes It Beautiful?
Sadly, I, and most other tourists, only get a chance to see a fraction of this national park. Deep in the jungle are overgrown temples and giant mossy elephants, but on the main route, there are still neat sites like the River of 1000 Lingas, an entire riverbed intricately carved with divine symbols (a.k.a. Shiva’s ding-a-linga), and the three-tiered Kulen Waterfall!
But what’s most beautiful about this place is its unifying power! Phnom Kulen (the “Mountain of Lychees”) is sacred both to Buddhists and Hindus, and many of their traditions intermix here! Pilgrims come to pray and purify themselves with the holy mountain water, adding elements of Animism to the mix and creating a trifecta that is uniquely Cambodian!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Donate to Archaeology and Development Foundation!
- Be a responsible visitor! Remember the old adages: Pack out what you pack in! Take nothing but pictures and leave nothing but footprints!
How Do I Get There?
None of the roads are named here, so here are the GPS coordinates of the places we visited:
- River of 1000 Lingas: 13°33’57.2″N 104°06’09.0″E
- Prah Ang Thom: 13°33’51.9″N 104°06’38.4″E
- Kulen Waterfall: 13°34’08.6″N 104°06’29.8″E
When Should I Visit the Park?
The one-way road into Phnom Kulen is only open between the hours of 7:00 AM and 12:00 PM, so get there early!
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