🙏 Wat Phnom
Cambodia
About This Sacred Site
Wat Phnom is the tallest religious structure in Phnom Penh and the temple from which the Cambodian capital takes its name. Legend holds that in 1373, a wealthy woman named Penh found four Buddha statues washed up on the riverbank and built a hill and temple to house them. Standing 27 meters above the surrounding city, the temple is a beloved pilgrimage site where locals come to pray for good luck and success. The current structure dates largely from 1926, though it has been rebuilt and renovated multiple times since its founding.
Key Facts
- •Phnom Penh ('Penh's Hill') takes its name from this temple
- •Founded in 1373 by a woman named Penh who found four Buddha statues
- •Standing 27 meters high, it is the tallest religious structure in the city
- •Locals pray here for luck in business, exams, and lottery numbers
- •The temple grounds are home to a colony of monkeys
Location
Coordinates: 11.5763, 104.9222
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