the main draws are the cooling cascades of the waterfall, the reclining Buddha — the largest in Cambodia — at Wat Preah Ang Thom pagoda and the 1,000 linga river carvings. Phnom Kulen attracts locals and tourists alike since this sacred mountain is the birthplace of the Khmer Empire and an important religious site, particularly busy on public holidays and weekends.
The
waterfall has two levels; the upper is about five metres high, the lower about
20 metres. To reach the latter you descend down a not especially sturdy wooden
staircase, which is not engineered for very young, elderly or the less nimble.
But by making it down you are rewarded with a wide waterfall that you can swim
in. Get changed in simple cubicles at the top and please do remember to dress
appropriately. Whether you find the waterfall to have an incredible
jaw-dropping wow factor is not guaranteed, but it still makes for a very
pleasant compliment to temple sites with its lush jungle setting
The river of 1000 lingas, Angkorian carvings carefully
etched into the riverbed holding religious significance, rest just a few
centimetres below the water’s surface when levels are low; they’re not so
easily seen when the water is high. They are not to be confused with those at
Kbal Spean, which makes for a good alternative to Kulen Mountain. Like Kulen
Mountain, Kbal Spean can similarly be combined with a temple visit to create a
full day’s excursion..
Check out the active pagoda, home to the reclining Buddha,
which really only takes a few moments to visit. There are plenty of local
restaurants around since Phnom Kulen is a popular picnic spot for Khmer friends
and families.
To access Kulen Mountain you need to pay US$20, on top of
your standard temple pass required to visit any of the sites in the main park
on the same day. This means visiting Phnom Kulen is not a particularly budget
day out, but it is one that delivers contrasts. Combine a visit with further
afield temple highlights such as Beng
Mealea or Banteay
Srei to create a full day itinerary.