Introduction
The city of Phnom Penh is a busy trade center and the capital of Cambodia, a country in Southeast Asia. In the Khmer language used by Cambodians, Phnom Penh means “Penh Hill.” According to Cambodian legend, the city was named after Lady Penh, who discovered several statues of Buddha during a flood. To house the statues, a temple, or wat, was built on a hill. That temple, known as Wat Phnom, sits on the hill in the middle of the city. Phnom Penh is located in the Mekong River valley in the south-central part of Cambodia. It stands where three rivers—the Mekong, the Sab, and the Bassac—meet.
Places of interest
Photograph:The Royal Palace at Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
* The Royal Palace at Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
With its location along the rivers, Phnom Penh is a beautiful city. It was built around the site of the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda. The pagoda is a Buddhist temple with a floor made up of 5,000 silver tiles. Near the Royal Palace, the Royal Ballet holds regular performances at Chatomuk Theater. Until modern times the ballet performed only before Cambodian royalty. The National Museum has an outstanding collection of ancient Khmer art.
Economy
Phnom Penh is a major river port and business center. Trade goods are shipped up and down the rivers. The products traded include dried fish, corn (maize), cotton, pepper, and textiles.
History
In the mid-15th century Phnom Penh replaced Angkor Thom as the capital of the Khmer nation. In 1865 King Norodom made the city the capital of Cambodia. The French used Phnom Penh as their colonial capital until they left Cambodia in 1955.
In 1975 Communist rebels known as the Khmer Rouge came to power in Cambodia. The Khmer Rouge forced most of Phnom Penh's citizens to leave the city and work in the countryside. Military forces from Vietnam invaded Cambodia and overthrew the Khmer Rouge in 1979. Afterward Phnom Penh's citizens gradually returned to the city. Population (1994 estimate), 920,000.
