Battambang

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Battambong

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Situated about 292km from Phnom Penh Battambang is Cambodia’s second largest city an elegant riverside town, with a population of perhaps 80,000. Quiet and serene, it was founded on the bank of the Stung Sangker river in the 11th century

This province has changed hands between Thailand and Cambodia on several occasions in the past few centuries. It was only returned to Cambodian control in 1907 and as recently as WWII the Thais cut a deal with the Japanses to take control again for several years. Before Cambodia's civil war Battambang was the largest and richest province in Cambodia, but ceded a large chunk of its territory to Banteay Meanchey for the creation of the new province.

It sheares a long border with Thailand and a short border with the Tonle Sap lake and is the fifth-largest province in the country.

Battembang was untouched for much of the early 1970s, as fighting raged elsewhere around the country. For this reason the whole area was viewed with much suspicion by Khmer Rouge leaders and was the victim of successive central purges. Life was little better after the war, as the ongoing guerrilla war and the proliferation of thousands of land mines devastated the agricultural industry that had built the economy.

However, the province is slowly recovering as demining groups free up land for agriculture and the many refugees who returned here during the 1990s are permanently settled.

Tourism has a lot of potential, as not only is the provincial capital a popular stop, but there are extensive examples of Angkorian heritage in the surrounding countryside.

Travel around the province has traditionally been slow due to disastrous roads, but both NH5, passing through the heart of the province, and NH57 tp Pailin are undergoing comprehensive renovations.

It is home to interesting historical sited like Wat Ek Phnom, a temple built by Suryarvanam I (1002-1050) in the 11th Century, Wat Toul Baset which dates back to 7th century and Wat Poveal Museums which displays Khmer arts.

And also home of the best-preserved colonial architecture in the country and some of the most hospitable Khmers you expect to meet. Due to its position near the Thai border the town has profited from large-scale black market trading. Fishing is secondary. There are three flights a week from Phnom Penh. You can ride the train from Phnom Penh to Battambang and some time even further up to Sisophon. If the track is blown up, the train runs only as far as Pursat. It can get pretty hot in summer. The train leaves from Phnom Penh at 6.30 every few days and arrives at Battambang at sunset.