Wat Phnom…The Heart of Phnom Penh

September 13, 2010, 12:00 pm
Filed under: Uncategorized

The bell-shaped stupa at Wat Phnom

The shrine

Enjoying an elephant ride

Located on a man-made hill, 27 meters above sea level, Wat Phnom is the tallest religious structure and is the heart of the city. With its bell-shaped stupa and naga (snake like being) decorating the corners of the roof, Wat Phnom is the site of many Buddhist ceremonies, including Pchum Benh and Cambodian New Year. Wat, meaning pagoda, and Phnom, meaning hill, was originally built in 1372 by the legendary Lady Penh, who is considered today as a powerful protective spirit of the town.
According to legend, Lady Penh discovered 4 Buddha statues floating on the Mekong River. She built a shrine on top of the hill to house the precious statues. The discovery was taken as a sign to move the capital city of Cambodia from Angkor to Phnom Penh. In 1434, King Ponhea Yat came and constructed the city, establishing several wats, and gave its name, “Phnom Penh.” The city, Phnom Penh, means “Penh’s Hill”, named after Lady Penh.
The shrine has been built many times, and each more beautiful than the previous one. Inside are bright modern murals that glow in the dark, depicting the lives of the Buddha and other stories. The large stupa contains the remains of King Ponhea Yat (1405-1476) and his royal family, and a Buddha statue from the Angkorean period. There is an altar for Lady Penh, now called Yeay Penh, “Grandmother Penh,” between the stupa and the shrine. People come to pray and give offerings to Yeay Penh for her help because they believed she is a powerful spirit. For example, a woman who cannot get pregnant, would request her help, and pray that her wish comes true.
Wat Phnom is also a park, a popular gathering spot for the locals. You can see monkeys roaming the area, but don’t feed them, because they might bite. Elephant rides are available and there is also the Wat Phnom Museum on the ground level. But the focal point of Wat Phnom is to climb the hill and explore the temple. Fortune tellers, located on top of the hill, are also popular. The huge clock, on the southern side base of the hill, illuminates at night, has become one of Phnom Penh’s night-time landmarks. Wat Phnom, the origin of the city’s name, is a must-see site in Phnom Penh.