Journey to the North of Battambang

Heading to the north about 15 km from Battambang town, it is atmospheric site, Wat Ek Phnom.

It is an elaborate side of modern pagoda sitting in front of the older temple which was partly destroyed during the Khmer Rouge fighting.

The main towers still stand strong in this atmospheric site and there are some fine decorated lintels to be seen. You can also see a huge white statue of a sitting Buddha guarded by peacock trees.

Ancient House

After passing several pagoda about 5 km before reaching Ek phnom, there are seasonal planted tree and farm leaving the green view catching your eyes.

It is the village of Pheam Ek, whose specialty is making rice paper for spring rolls.

And all along the road are villagers’ family workshops. You will see rice paste being steamed and then placed on a bamboo frame for drying in the sun. It is said that the coconuts grown there are especially sweet.

What make this village more attractive is the remaining wooden ancient house aged about a century. Most visitors stop by to see the house and an old couple who are the house owner, whose ages are not much less than the age of the house. Yet they both still look healthy.

Wat Ek Phnom

Wat Ek Phnom is 5.5km further on. This is a very popular picnic and pilgrimage destination for Cambodian at festival times. It is good to stop there and have meal next to a shimmering lotus pond. Directly in front of the drink stall is Wat Ek Phnom constructed six years ago.

The Giant Buddha

Next to the entrance door, there is an unfinished-construction of giant Buddha statue. It is told that the construction has been stopped by the government because it blocks the site’s timeless beauty.

The big statue will catch you sight first at your right hand side from the entrance while there is a big pond lying in the front making a nice view for visitor to get a good shot of the statue.

Wat Ek Phnom (Pagoda Ek Phnom)

Photo from flickr.com/photos/arnisd/4545268320

Ek Phnom pagoda is a modern pagoda. It has one of the most complete collections of Buddhist wall and ceiling paintings in all Cambodia.

Looking beyond the clashing reds, oranges, other assorted colours of the rainbow and glistening glided and painted features, one notices that unlike most pagodas, Ek Phnom contains no crematorium.

Instead a simple coffin sized and makeshift crematorium is used for deceased monks but local villagers have to make their own arrangements, which usually involves chopping down a banana tree and constructing a funeral pyre with that and charcoal.

Ek Phnom temple

Wat Ek Phnom - Photo by James Johnson

Walking a few minutes on the way between the statue and the pagoda, Ek Phnom temple is there surrounded by placid lotus and lily ponds.

Ek Phnom temple is a 11th Century-built temple, which is now partly collapsed, and was built (prior to Angkor Wat) in 1027 as a Hindu Temple. The temple was built of sandstone during King Soryavarman I era (1002-1050).

The temple consists of prasats on a platform with some carvings in good condition. There are 18 bodhi trees around the temple. Outside the temple to the south, you will see a moat that is now a pond.

Ek Phnom is still a hugely popular venue for locals, especially at Khmer New Year and other Khmer festivals when hundreds of people will descend on the area. To mark the end of rainy season, locals gather at night to place candles on small, handmade boats and then watch their crafts gently float away down the river.

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