🌊 Phnom Kulen
Cambodia
About This Sacred Site
Phnom Kulen is the most sacred mountain in Cambodia, where King Jayavarman II proclaimed independence from Java in 802 CE, founding the Khmer Empire. The mountain's Kbal Spean ('Bridge Head') features an extraordinary riverbed carved with hundreds of Hindu lingas and images of Vishnu, Shiva, and other deities, earning it the name 'River of a Thousand Lingas.' A large reclining Buddha carved from sandstone sits atop the mountain, and sacred waterfalls are used for ritual purification. Cambodians consider a pilgrimage here essential at least once in their lifetime.
Key Facts
- •King Jayavarman II founded the Khmer Empire here in 802 CE
- •The Kbal Spean riverbed is carved with hundreds of Hindu lingas and deity images
- •A large reclining Buddha is carved from a boulder at the summit
- •The mountain's waterfalls are considered sacred for ritual purification
- •Considered the birthplace of Cambodian civilization
Location
Coordinates: 13.6100, 104.0800
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