What to do in Battambang? Top 8 things to see

Although it is the second largest city in Cambodia, Battambang has managed to retain a provincial atmosphere that gives it a certain charm. The city has a beautiful collection of old, faded colonial houses, a lively city center with its bustling central market and several cultural curiosities nestled in a rice-growing countryside of all beauty. Discover without further delay this endearing city full of Khmer authenticity.

1. The bamboo train

The bamboo train is a flagship attraction of Battambang. Certainly, this activity has lost a little of its authenticity since the original railway line is no longer used with the commissioning of the Phnom-Penh - Poitet link which has been reestablished with a train every two days. Faced with the enthusiasm of tourists, eager to discover this original mode of transport, a new railway line was created so that the bamboo train could still operate.

The bamboo train is a motorized railcar made up of a bamboo platform, hence its name, which makes a round trip on a disused railway line in the countryside. Originally used in the 1970s by railway workers to inspect the tracks and then to transport soldiers, this means of transport was then used by locals to get around. It is a pleasant walk through the rice fields, you should do that at the end of the day when the sun sets on the bewitching Cambodian countryside.

2. Prasat Banon Temple

Going to the temple of Prasat Banon is the opportunity for a very beautiful walk in the Cambodian countryside. Prasat Banon is a monastery located about twenty kilometers from Battambang, near the Sangker River. This 11th-century Brahmanic sanctuary, set on an 80-metre-high hill, was discovered by the French archaeologist Henri Mouhot, the discoverer of Angkor, in 1858. Nearly 370 steps lead you to the summit and an elegant terrace decorated with ancient stone lions and naga heads. Worth seeing is the central sanctuary with 5 floors of finely decorated sandstone sculptures, the beautiful sculpted portals and the bas-reliefs that decorate the central tower.

3. Phnom Sampeu or Junk Hill

This enormous limestone promontory overlooking the plain Southwest of Battambang is an ancient religious center famous for its Buddhist temples and caves. At the top, you can enjoy a spectacular panorama of the Cambodian countryside. The site was used by the Khmer Rouge during the civil war to carry out several mass killings. Today, Phnom Sampeu is a site of commemoration, including visits to two caves called "killing caves" that served as prisons for Khmer Rouge torturers.

4. Wat Aek Phnom Temple

Wat Aek Phnom is an ancient Hindu temple located on the left bank of the Sangker River, about 13 kilometers North of Battambang. Built in the 11th century during the reign of King Suryavarman I, this temple is famous for its well-sculpted lintels and pediments. The sanctuary is built on a sandstone terrace and houses two libraries. Visitors particularly appreciate the enormous white stone seated Buddha statue leading to the Buddhist pagoda of Ek Phnom and the bas-reliefs representing events from Hindu mythology.

5. Prasat Baset Temple

To get to Prasat Baset Temple, you cross a peaceful rural landscape between green rice fields and small Khmer villages. This can be an opportunity for a nice bike ride in the Battambang countryside covered with rice fields.

6. The Battambang Museum

Located in the city center on the banks of the Sangker River, the modest Battambang Museum is well worth a visit for its beautiful collection of Angkorian bas-reliefs, stone sculptures from the pre-Angkorian and Angkorian periods, pottery, ceramics, metal objects and a remarkable series of sculpted lintels found on the various archaeological sites of the region, including the temple of Prasat Banon. Note that the museum houses a superb collection of rare standing wooden Buddhas, dating from the 17th century.

7. Discover the vibrant Psar Nat Market

In the morning, go to the Psar Nat Market to breathe in the frenetic commercial animation that characterizes this dynamic market where the heart of Battambang beats. The market is held in an Art Deco building topped by a square clock tower that was designed in 1936 by the architect Jean Desbois, the same one who designed the central market of Phnom Penh. You will find there a jumble of jewelers, hairdressers, fish, meat, fruit, and vegetable sellers and a few small stalls where you can eat. The ideal place to immerse yourself in the local culture!

8. Attend the Phare Ponleu Selpak circus show

Every week, every Monday and Thursday from 6 p.m., you can attend the Phare Ponleu Selpak circus show, a Cambodian organization created in 1994 and born in the post-Khmer Rouge refugee camps. Juggling, acrobatics, balancing acts and other clowning punctuate this humorous show. Attending one of the performances of the Phare Ponleu Selpak Circus allows you to support this association which helps disadvantaged young people.

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