Cambodian Royal Palace

The Silver Pagoda

The Information below is the info we got from our guide at the Royal Palace. It’s quite a place and we had a good time with our guide investigating as much as we were allowed.

The Cambodian Royal Palace, in Phnom Penh, Cambodia is a complex of buildings which serves as the royal residence of the kings of Cambodia.

Exploring the Palace

The Kings of Cambodia have occupied it since it was built in 1860s, with a period of absence when the country came into turmoil during and after the reign of the Khmer Rouge. The palace was constructed after King Norodom relocated the royal capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh in the mid-19th century. It was built atop an old Citadel called Banteay Kev. It faces towards the East and is situated at the Western bank of the cross division of the Tonle Sap River and the Mekong River.

Stupa

The complex is divided by walls into four main compounds, on the south side is the Silver Pagoda, to the north side is the Khemarin Palace and the central compound contains the Throne Hall and to the west is the private sector or the Inner Court. The buildings of the palace were built gradually overtime, and some were dismantled and rebuilt as late as the 1960s. But some older buildings date back to the 1800s.

The Silver Pagoda is a compound located on the South side of the palace complex. Its main building houses many national treasures such as gold and jeweled Buddha statues. Most notable is a small crystal Buddha (the "Emerald Buddha" of Cambodia) and its undetermined whether its was made of Baccarat Crystal in 1800s or of other kind of crystal in 1600s A nearlife - size, Maitreya Buddha is encrusted with 9,584 diamonds dressed in royal regalia commissioned by King Sisowath. During King Sihanouk's pre-Khmer Rouge reign, the Silver Pagoda was inlaid with more than 5,000 silver tiles and some of its outer facade was remodeled with Italian marble.

The Flag is Flying, The King's in Residence

The Khemarin Palace is the common English name for a building It is used as an official residence of the King of Cambodia. This compound is separated from other buildings by a small wall and is located to the right of the Throne Hall. The main building is topped with a single spired prang. A statue of Her Majesty Queen Kossamak on a palanquin is in the inner court, behind is the King's residence.

Highly recommended!

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