The Kingdom of Cambodia, formerly known as Kampuchea, has its name derived from the Sanskrit and Kambujadesa.
Cambodia covers a total area of 181,035 square kilometers in the heart of South East Asia with bordering to Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand.
Two dominant features are the Tonle Sap Lake and the Mekong River, which traverse the country from north to south. The Mekong River, the 12th longest river in the world, basically runs through southern China, Myanmar, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam before spilling into the sea.
Beside minerals, oil and natural gas deposits where found beneath Cambodia’s territorial waters and the potential revenues will surely contribute to the future of Cambodia’s economy.
Population
Total population is 14 million. 90% of the residents are Khmer, the rest are Cham (Khmer Muslim), Chinese, Vietnamese, Indian, Thai, Phnorng, Kuoy, Stieng, Tamil, ect.
Capital
Phnom Penh - Population is more than 2 million.
Local Time
GMT + 7 hours
Currency
The local currency is the Riel (R). The exchange rate is 1 US$ = Appr. 4,000.00 Riel (http://www.xe.com/)
Climate
Cambodia’s climate is hot and warm almost all year round and the average temperature is from 26-37°C. The climate is dominated by the annual monsoon cycle of rainy and dry seasons. The rainy season lasts from May – October, and the dry season from November – April. December – January are cool months while the hottest period is in April.
Language
Khmer is the official language of Cambodia. The Cambodian language is derived from the Mon-Khmer (Austro-Asiatic) language family. It is renowned for being one of the largest set of alphabets; it consists basically of 33 consonants, 23 vowels and 12 independent vowels.
Tourist may wish to learn a few spoken phrases before or visiting Cambodia. However, English is widely spoken and understood. French is the second language after English for most elder Cambodians and the Chinese language is also widely spoken.
Religion
Theravada Buddhism is the prevailing official religion in Cambodia and approximately ninety percent of the population are Buddhists. Islam, Hinduism and Christianity are also embraced in Cambodia. Since Buddha statues and images represent the revered Buddha, visitors are asked to treat all such statues and images with respect so as not to cause offence to local people.
In Cambodia, regardless of religion, the country maintains a harmonized state.
National Flag
The flag of Cambodia symbolizes the country’s religious dignity and royalty. Two large blue stripes representing royalty, embrace on even larger red stripe which represents the nation. The image of the white temple represents the nation’s religion. Generally speaking, the color and image on the Cambodian flag personify the country’s slogan: Nation, Religion, King.
Visa
All nationalities need to apply for a travel visa, except for nationals from the following ASEAN’s countries: Brunei, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.
A visa on arrival, valid for a thirty-day stay, is specifically granted at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap international airports, and international border checkpoints. Visas are also granted at Royal Cambodian Embassy or Consulate abroad. The visa for a tourist is US$30, and the visa fee for a businessman is US$35. Visas can be extended at the immigration department in Phnom Penh. A free visa (K) is expressly granted to the Cambodian living overseas.
The Royal Government of Cambodia has recently approved E-visas. All you have to do is complete the online application from available website (http://evisacambodia.com/), pay by credit card online, and include uploading a recent passport-size photo in JPEG/ PNG format. The visa will be approved within three business days, allowing you to breeze by that lengthy line and get a jump-start on your holiday.
A Brief of Khmer History
The race that produced the builders of Angkor developed slowly through the fusion of the Mon-Khmer racial groups of Southern Indochina during the first six centuries of the Christian era. Under Indian influence, two principal centers of civilization developed. The older in the extreme south of the peninsula was call “Funan” (the name is a Chinese transliteration of the ancient Khmer form of the word “Phnom”, which mean “hill”), a powerful maritime empire which ruled over all the shores of the Gulf of Siam. In the mid-sixth century, the Kambuja who lived in the middle Mekong (north of present day Cambodia), broke away from Funan. Within a short period, this new power known as Chenla, absorbed the Funanese Kingdom. In the late seventh century, Chenla broke into two parts: Land Chenla (to the north) and Water Chenla (to the south along the Gulf of Thailand) dominated by the Chinese. Land Chenla was fairly stable during the 8th century, whereas Water Chenla was beset by dynastic rivalries. During this period, Java invaded and took control part of the country.
At the beginning of the 9th centuries, the king set up their respective capital in the present province of Siem Reap. For nearly six centuries, the kings enriched it by building temples one after another and each being more sumptuous than the other. Two hundreds of these temples all over in the Angkorian area some 400 square kilometers in the Siem Reap Province. The temples and their sanctuaries are the best known for their architecture and sculptures.
The first found of Angkor was King Jayavarman II (802-850), who built one of his residences on the plateau of the Kulen in 802. King Indravarman I (887-889), a nephew of King Jayavarman II, constructed a vast irrigation system at Lolei and then built the tower of Preah Ko in 879 and Bakong in 881. The King Yasovarman (889-900)
, the son of King Indravarman I, dedicated the towers of Lolei to his memory in 893 and founded a new capital to the northwest which was to remain the very heart of Angkor. He built the Eastern Baray, a 7km x 2km size artificial lake also.
, the son of King Indravarman I, dedicated the towers of Lolei to his memory in 893 and founded a new capital to the northwest which was to remain the very heart of Angkor. He built the Eastern Baray, a 7km x 2km size artificial lake also.
King Harshavarman I (900-923), the son of King Yasovarman, who took to the foot of Phnom Bakheng, consecrated the little temple of Baksei Chamkrong, and built Prasat Kravan in 921. King Jayavarman IV (928-941), uncle of King Harshavarman I, reigned in northeastern Cambodia near the present town of Koh Ker. He erected several majestic monuments. King Rajendravarman (944-968) return to Angkor in 952 and built the Eastern Mebon and Pre Roup in 961. In 967, the Brahman Yajnavaraha, a high religious dignitary of royal blood, erected the temple of Banteay Srei, about 20km northeast of the capital. King Jayavarman V (968-1001) founded a new capital around Takeo Temple.
In the 11th century, the King Suryavarman I (1002-1050) seized Angkor and founded a glorious dynasty. It was at this time that the Gopura of the Royal Palace of Angkor Thom was completed with the sober pyramid of the Phimeanakas at its center. He also erected the temple of Phnom Chiso, some parts of Preah Vihear, and Preah Khan in Kampong Svay District.
King Udayadityavarman II (1050-1066), son of King Suryavarman I, built the mountain temple of Baphuon and Western Baray. King Udayadityavarman’s brother, King Harshavarman III, succeeded him and ruled from 1066-1080 when violent strife led to the fall of the dynasty. King Jayavarman VI (1080-1113) continued to build Preah Vihear Mount in Vat Po and Phimai.
Kng Suryavarman II (1113-1150) extended his power from the coast of the China Sea the Indian Ocean and built the temples of Angkor Wat, Thommanon, Chau Say Tevoda, Preah Palilay, Preah Pithu and Banteay Samre. After these dazzling achievements, the Khmer civilization began to decline due to internal strife and an attack by the Chams.
King Jayavarman VII (1181-1200) was the most fascinating personality in Khmer history. He re-established his rules over all of southern Indochina and is best known of his huge building program. He built Ta Prohm (1186) and Preah Khan (1191) to dedicate to his parents. Then he erected Banteay Kdei, Srah Srang, the Terrace of the Leper King, the terrace of the Elephants, Neak Pean, Ta Saom, Ta Nei, and a few monuments in other parts of the country. It was he who founded his great capital, Angkor Thom and in the center of which, he built the Bayon temple with its two hundred stone faces.
It is understandable that the country was exhausted after these enormous efforts. The decline of the Angkor ear began after the death of the King Jayavarman VII in early 13th century. Due to Siamese invasion and the limitations of the irrigation system, Khmer power declined so drastically that the king was finally obliged to move to the vicinity of Phnom Penh in 1431. Then, resulting from a series of Siamese and Cham invasions, the country was placed as a French protectorate in 1863.
After regaining independence in 1953, the country resumed several names:
- The Kingdom of Cambodia (under the Reachia Niyum Regime, 1953-1970)
- The Khmer Republic (under the Lon Nol Regime, 1970-1975)
- Democratic Kampuchea (under the Pol Pot Genocidal Regime, 1975-1979)
- The People’s Republic of Kampuchea (1979-1989)
- The State of Cambodia (1989-1993)
- The Kingdom of Cambodia (1993 until now)
