Sinay's R.
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It is worth a visit to Wat Phnom if you are in central Phnom Penh. It is the starting for all major highways in Cambodia as well as the legendary origin stories of our city. Even the name Phnom Penh, literally "the hill of Lady Penh", reinforces the centrality of Wat Phnom, as this pagoda is the hill that Lady Penh built to honour 4 Buddhist statues that miraculous floated down the river to her.
Whether you believe the stories or not, come see the altars dedicated to Lady Penh adjacent to a Buddhist temple (a nice mixing of Buddhism and traditional shamanism).
The pagoda grounds also feature a statue representing the return of Battambang and Siem Reap from Thailand to Cambodia, a reminder that the current Thai-Khmer problems are certainly not the first instance of friction between the two nations.
Pro Tip
There are a lot of cultural performances in the pagoda stage so check the schedule to see if anything is going on during your visit.
Also, during Khmer New Year in April, this pagoda is the epicenter of music, dancing and water fighting for the whole of PP.