Short City Tour – French Colonial Buildings
Pick up from the hotel at 5.30am for land travel going to Battambang, proceed to hotel for check-in.
Please note that hotel check in time is from 1400. Early check in is subject to hotel availability and with extra fee.
Short freshen up, 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 surp the then-king.
1 hour tour (8.30am to 9.30am)
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 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 (9.45am to 10.45am)
Visit Prasat Ek Phnom (20 minutes’ travel from Wat Samrong Knong)
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.
45 minutes tour (11.15pm to 12.00pm)
Lunch not included in tour price.
Visit Kampong PiI Pagoda ( 30 minutes travel from Prasat Ek Phnom)
A famous Buddhist temple featuring magnificent Khmer architecture. The temple is one of the very few places where people can take Buddhism lessons. The statue of the reclining Buddha and the one ones relaying his life events are the most prominent attractions of the temple, with the artistically built entrance and the temple’s tranquility.
In addition, a must try the Plov Thmey a.k.a The Swinging Bridge stretches 86metres from the Sangke River connecting to the road to kampong Pil pagoda.
1 hour tour (2.00pm to 3.00pm)
Bamboo Train Ride – Norry or Nori (10mins from Kampong Pil pagoda) Optional
Norry or Nori is an improvised rail vehicle service. It commonly used by locals as it had a low fares and relatively fast. Its simple construction and light weight means that s norry could be easily removed from the track, if two meet on the line, the one with the lighter load is removed from the rails and carried round the other. At the end of the line the vehicle would be lifted and turned.
30 minutes ( 3.15pm to 4.45pm)
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.
1 hour tour ( 5.15pm to 6.15pm)
