Cambodia: A Truly Captivating Travel Experience

Next time you take a holiday, consider as a destination the kingdom of Cambodia. This beautiful country has a certain mysterious magic to it that makes it a wonderful holiday location. There are anumber different types of Cambodia holidays available, but whatever you choose to do and wherever you choose to go you are guaranteed to have an experience that will stay with you for life.

The first side of Cambodia that the majority of travellers encounter is one of the major cities, most probably the capital Phnom Penh. This is the main gateway into the country, the place at which most flights arrive. The cheapest flights into the country are to be found online and it is worth searching as there are some real deals out there.

Although many people pass through Phnom Penh, most are on their way to visit the great temple of Angkor Wat and so do not take time to explore the city. This is a great shame as it is not only a centre of intellectual debate and culture but also a bustling, vibrant metropolis. With its certain chaotic charm, Phnom Penh is widely regarded as one of Asia’s undiscovered gems.

There are many historic and cultural places in Cambodia’s capital. These include the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda, so named because of the silver tiles that cover its floor. Each of these 5,329 tiles was handcrafted and weighs 1.125 kg, and the overall effect that they give the building is spectacular. It’s in this unique pagoda that the king of Cambodia meets with monks. It is also the location of a number of important royal ceremonies. This intriguing building also houses several priceless Buddhist works of art, including the Emerald Buddha and the Buddha of the Future, a 90 kg gold statue encrusted with 2,086 diamonds. Another highlight of the capital is the National Museum, which houses one of the World’s largest collections of Khmer art.

In many respects Phnom Penh, with its busy markets and narrow streets filled with motorcycles, can be described as an assault on the senses. However, there is a much more serious and emotional side to the city. The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum is located in the high school that became the prison and interrogation centre of the Khmer Rouge. It was here that an estimated 17,000 people were tortured and killed by the communist regime. Once the site of innumerable horrors and atrocities, today the museum stands as a monument to the dead and a reminder of the horrific days of the Khmer Rouge.

Another city that is worth visiting while you are in Cambodia is Siem Reap. Located in the northern part of the country on the route to Angkor Wat, this is a city that has reinvented itself over the last few years. It is now a place to visit in its own right rather than a just community servicing the tourists on their way to the great Khmer temples. A beautiful riverside location, charming old French colonial architecture and a cultural renaissance in full swing all make Siem Reap a great place to stop and explore.

Of course, those travelling to Cambodia should not leave without visiting its world famous temples and in particular Angkor Wat, the greatest of them all. The Khmer Empire, which was responsible for constructing the majority of these temples, was once the most powerful force in all of south-east Asia, covering much of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Myanmar and Malaysia. These soaring temples steeped in roots and creepers can only be described as simply breathtaking, and for many people are an experience that they will never forget.

Cambodia is a country of spiritual contrast, from the heavenly highs of its stunning temples to the hell on Earth depicted at the Toul Sleng Museum of Genocide. It’s a country that is finally starting to rise from the ashes of war and a place that should be high on your list of destinations. To see the best of it and to travel from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap and on to Angkor Wat, it may be worth investigating car hire options, although a little research in the state of the country's roads will be necessary.