reclining Buddha carved into the sandstone boulder upon which it is built Nearby is a large waterfall and above it are smaller bathing areas and a number of carving in the riverbed, including numerous lingas. A private businessman bulldozed a road up here a decade ago and charges a US$20 toll per foreign visitor, an ambitious fee compared with what you get for your money at Angkor. None of the toll goes towards preserving the site.Considered by khmers to be the most sacred mountain in Cambodia, Phnom Kulen is a popular place of pilgrimage on weekends and during festivals. It played a significant role in the history of the Khmer empire, as it was from here in AD 802 that Jayavarman II proclaimed himself a devaraja (god -king) and announced independence from Java, giving birth to the Cambodia kingdom There is a small wat (Wat Preah Ang Thom) at the summit of the mountain, which houses a large
The road winds its way through some spectacular jungle seenery, emerging on the plateau after a 20km ascent. The road eventually splits: the left fork leads to the picnic spot, waterfalls and ruins of a 9th century temple: the right fork continues over a bridge and some riverbed carvings to the reclining Buddha. This is the focal point of a pilgrimage here for khmer people, so it is important to take off your shoes and any head covering before climbing the stairs to the sanctuary. The views from the 487m peak are tremendous, as you can see right across the forested plateau.
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