Tourism of Banteay Meanchey
Banteay Meanchey is a Cambodian province in the northwest of Cambodia, and its capital is named Sisophon. The town of Sisophorn is today a charming, quiet place that only gives hints to its turbulent past upon closer examination. Like Siem Reap and Battambang Provinces, control of the province has changed hands many times between your Thais and the Khmers in the even more distant past, and the Khmer Rouge and central Phnom Penh government in recent years. With the ultimate demise of the Khmer Rouge (locals, however, firmly believe today’s national reconciliation just the Khmer Rouge trick), the province and towns are striving to rebuild their culture and economy.
It is rather a friendly place with the locals genuinely pleased to see foreign faces and the stability that it implies. Normally only a passing-through I’m all over this the best way to the border, or between Battambang and Siem Reap, the region includes a few sights that warrant a visit, such the Banteay Chhmar temple ruins, the only other Khmer temple ruins aside from the Bayon (Angkor) and Preah Khan ( Preah Vihear Province ) that has the famous four-faced monuments.
This area was a portion of the extensive Khmer empire, using it’s perhaps most obviously remains the Banteay Chhmar temple (built-in 12th and 13th century) in the north of the province. In the 17th century, the Siam took control over Cambodia and made the region of the present-day province part of Sisophon Province. In the entire year 1907, the Siam had to cede control to the French, and the region was then included in Battambang Province. In 1988 the province Banteay Meanchey was split faraway from Battambang.
History of Banteay Meanchey
Banteay Meanchey is another part of the previous extensive Khmer empire. The notable one may be the Banteay Chhmar temple in the north of the province, built-in the 12th -13th century. Local Cambodian people call these temples will be the Banteay Neang and Banteay Torp temples.
In the 1795 Siam took control over Western Cambodia and made the area into Siamese province of Inner Cambodia with the administration capital in Phra Tabong, Battambang. This province lasted until 1907 when Siam traded Inner Cambodia for the return of Trat and Dan Sai. In the same year, King Sisowath decided to split the return Inner Cambodian Province into Battambang Province (which included Sisophon) and Siem Reap Province. When Thailand re-annexed western Cambodia 1941, Sisophon was split off [[Battambang]] Province and was an administrative capital of Phibunsongkram Province which lasted until 1946 when the whole region was returned to the French control.
In 1988 the province Banteay Meanchey was split off from Battambang, originally consisting of the five districts Mongkol Borei, Thmar Puok, Serei Saophoan, Preah Net Preah and Phnom Srok.
One of the most known places in that province is Poipet, a town on the Thailand/Cambodia border. It’s the key crossing point between the two countries, and also extremely popular as a gambling destination with lots of casinos (gambling is popular but illegal in Thailand). There is a strip of casinos, guesthouses, and hotels between the Thai and Cambodian passport control counters, enabling Thais to gamble in Cambodia without needing to go through Cambodian immigration. Poipet is adjacent to the city of Aranya Pratet on the Thai side of the border. The province is mostly covered by extensive lowlands, with a few uplands to the North and East (all in all-around 6,679 sq/km surface). The main rivers are the Mongkol Borei River and the Sisophon River
One of the most known places in that province is Poipet, a town on the Thailand/Cambodia border. It’s the key crossing stage between your two countries, and in addition popular as a gambling destination with a lot?s of casinos (gambling is popular, but illegal in Thailand). There exists a strip of casinos, guesthouses, and hotels between your Thai and Cambodian passport control counters, enabling Thais to gamble in Cambodia without having to proceed through Cambodian immigration. Poipet is next to the town of Aranya Pratet on the Thai side of the border.
The province is mainly included in extensive lowlands, with a few uplands to the North and East (overall around 6,679 sq/km surface). The primary drivers will be the Mongkol Borei River and the Sisophon River.
Things To Do & See
Banteay Chhmar
Banteay Chhmar is normally a largely unrestored, sprawling monastic complex established amongst jungle overgrowth. Face towers, a temple in jungle scenes and extensive, very well preserved bas-reliefs provide a few of the highlights. Banteay Chhmar was focused on the son of the King, Jayavarman VII, who died fighting Champa. Khmer-Cham battles are depicted in the bas reliefs.
Ang Trapeang Thmor
The Ang Trapeang Thmor Sarus Crane Conservation Area is among the prime bird-watching sites of northwest Cambodia. The region offers a distinctive opportunity to quickly see a diversity of bird species like the endangered Eastern Sarus Crane, the world’s tallest flying bird. The protected area is an enormous reservoir created by forced labor through the Khmer Rouge regime, which harbors a distinctive wetland now. Aside from the Sarus Crane, the reservoir harbors a lot more than 200 species of various other birds, which 18 possess been classified as globally threatened or globally near-threatened.
Banteay Neang
For achieving the Banteay Neang it requires distance around 11 km (20mn) From Provincial Town. It really is in The Banteay Chhmar Village, Banteay Chhmar Commune, Tmar Puok District. The Historical Sites and Buildings, Location: Road No. 69A, Banteay Chhmar Village, Banteay Chhmar Commune, Tmar Puok District.
Phnom Bak and Phnom Chen Chung
It will be the natural and cultural resort locating at Se Rey Sa Phoan District, along the National Road No 5, about 5kilometers west of Banteay Meanchey provincial town. Both mountains are near each other. The vertical faces of the mountains just like a wall. At the flank, there exists a place for people to relax. At the base of the mountain can be a big well, 10 square meters and 12 meters deep. Some stone statues are sculptured there. Additionally, there are a number of vendors selling stone sculptures.
La Ang Phnom Touch
Is the natural and cultural resort locating at Se Rey Sa Phoan District, along the National Road No 5 in 65-kilometer distance from Phnom Penh or five-kilometer distance from the provincial town, then turning right more 500 Meters. The resort consists of two mountains closed to each other and big-stand rocks which look like a wall. On the top of the mountains, there are new buildings constructed in ancient style for local tourists who spend their visit and leisure there during the festival days.
Banteay Torp
We can go down along the National Road No 59 to access the Thmar Puok District. It is the historical site that was built between the 12th and 13th centuries during the reign of King, Jar Varman VII. The temple is located at Thmar Puok District, along the National Road No 59.
The construction was at the late 12th -13th-century C.E, Buddhist religion, Jayavarman VII king, Bayon Style; Famed, a large temple in Banteay Meanchey province, the ancient temple is a massively unrestored, sprawling complex set amongst jungle overgrowth. Face towers, temple in jungle scenes and extensive, amazingly well-preserved bas -reliefs provide some of the highlights. Banteay Chhar, require an entire day to get to and back from Siem Reap.
Ang Teuk Kang Va
The way to reach the Ang Touk Kanh Va let getting down along the National Road No 69A. It located Se Rey Sa Phoan District, it is the natural resort locating at Se Rey Sa Phoan District, along the National Road No 69A in a four-kilometer distance from the provincial town or 364-kilometer distance from Phnom Penh.
Visitors who spend the holiday the resorts are usually interested in the Abundance of fresh air. The beautiful scenery with blowing winds of Ang Teuk Kang Va. Leisure activities such as swimming, fishing, and boating.
Buying Things in Banteay Meanchey
As you will visit any provincial of Cambodia, In, [[Banteay Meanchey]] you can buy most commodities at every market located near center of town, even though small towns like Samraong District have at least one market for shopping.
You may also find a market in Samraong centre, which is a busy area with local shops dealing the local daily consumer products, like fish, pork, beef, fruits, vegetables, meats, packed products, and grocery items for your personal cooking or take away. Most of the food and drink shops are located in the center of the market.
Food in Banteay Meanchey
Mondial Restaurant
This is the swank joint in town with good food and service. Friendly staff and live Khmer music while you have your dinner (this is thankfully one place that keeps the quantity down a little bit). The staff can be fair within their English.
Penh Chet Restaurant
A step-down but it’s a clean, basic place with good food and the most common friendly beer girls. Additionally, there is live music within the evening. There isn’t an English menu, however, the beer girls could have lots of fun trying to assist you in ordering. The restaurant next to the Phnom Svay Hotel delivers the very best food in Sisophan. It’s a simple place however the menu can be varied and features many Western faves. Decent hamburgers, French fries, ice cream, amongst others are sure to satisfy your Cambodian road-weary appetite. The area draws an excellent crowd of foreign workers and locals alike.
There are restaurant stalls by the shared taxi stand, along with plenty of evening dessert and fruit shake/drink stands around town. Sisophan includes a rather rowdy (and seedy) brothel area built almost on the RR tracks close to the place. With the train tooting it’s whistle and vibrating the shacks since it crawls by, it’s surely Sisophan’s version of the favorite book, Off the Rails in Phnom Penh. The ladies are out completely forced in the late afternoon, beckoning you over, laughing and seemingly enjoying the festiveness of the region that point of your day. Refreshments stand to dot the region, and with all the current local males milling about any of it almost does look like a carnival.
How to Get To Banteay Meanchey
By Road: Present, It really is even more accessible to Banteay Meanchey Province, Most domestic and international visitors come to Banteay Meanchey mostly by Road.
The city of Sisophan is about 359 km from Phnom Penh via national road #5. You may even reach the Province from Bangkok via Poipet border. There isn’t a lot of choices to get into that province. You either have your own motorcycle or you are taking a shared taxi. But wait; let’s not forget the train. Or maybe we should, because it’s very slow – the railroad doesn’t even want to quote you a correct arrival time because it’s never going to be the same. The train from Battambang arrives in Sisophan sometimes between 10:00 – 11:00 am (usually). The trip takes around 31/2 hours, which is approximately double enough time that the shared taxies dependence on, but unlike the majority of things in life, it’ s free! This won’st last for longas the indigent Khmer folks are paying, while we are not
By Flight: For the moment, there is absolutely no flight schedule and airport to Banteay Meanchey, only main destinations in Cambodia give you affordable flight and quick simpler.
By Boat: No boat transportation obtainable in link with Banteay Meanchey Province, for boat transportation