Short City Tour – French Colonial Buildings
Pick up from the hotel at 8.00am with a short briefing about the whole day tour. Proceed to a short city tour and see all French colonial buildings and see the symbol of Battambang the Lok Ta Dambong Kra Nhoung Shrine, it is a large statue located at the entrance of the city showing a young man named Ta Dumbong. This Ta Dumbong is at the center of legend from which the name Battambang derived, he was a cowherd who found a magic stick and used it to un surps the then-king.
1 hour tour (8.15am to 9.00am)
Visit Prasat Ek Phnom (20 minutes’ travel from city)
Prasat Ek Phnom is a Hindu temple built in the 11th century in 1027 under the rule of King Suryavarman 1. The white-stone sitting Buddha statue surrounded by 18 Bodhi Trees which provides cool shade and fresh air. The pagoda opens the way to the ruins of the ancient Hindus temple. The ancient temple is built of sandstone blocks and enclosed by the remains of a laterite (soil type rich in iron and aluminum) outer wall and Baray (artificial body of water), consists of small temples or prasats on a platform. One of the distinctive aspects of this Hindu temple is the fact that its structure share similarities with the famous Angkor Wat temple.
1 hour tour (9.30am to 10.30am)
Wat Samrong Knong Tour (15minutes from the city)
The oldest pagoda located in Samraong Khnong Village built 1707 by a monk named Thudong Chey. Pagoda was named Samrong because of the Samrong trees growing surround the temple. From 1975 to 1979 during the Khmer Rouge, the pagoda was used as prison and tortured place, many victims murdered and their bones and skulls were at the place. After Cambodia was freed totally from Khmer Rouge, bones and skulls were taken and keep in urn near the pagoda.
1-hour tour (11am to 12pm)
Back to city for Lunch Break (15 minutes from Wat Samrong Knong) (Included in price)
1hour 30 minutes (12.20pm to 1.30pm)
Wat Banan Temple (35minutes from the city)
Wat Banan temple away from Battambang city about 25km is the best preserve Khmer Temple. It is a 358-stone-step climb up Phnom Banan, but the incredible views across the surrounding countryside from the top are worth it. This was built during the 11th century by Udayadityavarman II, son of Suryavarman I. Some locals claim the five-tower layout here was the inspiration of Angkor Wat. It was built to give thanks, ask for help and pray to God. During the era, they had a strong belief in God, especially Hindu gods.
1hour and 30 minutes’ tour (2.10pm to 3.35pm
Phnom Sampeau Tour (30 mins from Kampong Pil pagoda)
Phnom Sampeau is known for gorgeous views and mesmerizing display of bats, which pour out of a massive cave in it cliff face. About half way up to the summit, a road leads under a gate and 240m up to the Killing caves of Phnom Sampeau, now a place of pilgrimage. A staircase leads to a cavern where a golden reclining Buddha lies next to a glass- walled filled with bones and skulls. This are the remains of some of the people bludgeoned to death during Khmer Rouge cadres and then thrown through the skylight above. Next to the base of the stairs is the old memorial, a rusty cage made of chicken wire and cyclone fencing and partly filled with human bones.
2 hours tour ( 4.10pm to 6.10pm)
Dinner will be serve at the hotel restaurant. (Included in the price)
