Perhaps, the most understated feature of Phnom Penh is its elevation. Phum Thormmatray sits here. Its story is intertwined with the city’s larger narrative.
Phum Thormmatray is a quiet hamlet. It resides within Khan Dangkao. We are in Phnom Penh. This area shows an average elevation of about 36 feet.
Phnom Penh is Cambodia’s capital. It is also its most populous city. The city became the national capital in 1434. This followed the fall of Angkor. It remained so until 1497. Phnom Penh regained its capital status in 1865. This was during the French colonial era.
The name Phnom Penh means Penh’s hill. It comes from Wat Phnom. Wat Phnom means hill temple. Legend says that in 1372, Lady Penh found a Koki tree. It was floating down the Tonlé Sap River after a storm. Inside were four Buddha statues. There was also a stone statue of Vishnu. Lady Penh built a temple on a small hill. This housed the statues. The temple became Wat Phnom Daun Penh.
Phnom Penh first became the capital in 1432. King Ponhea Yat moved it from Angkor Thom. Siam had captured and destroyed Angkor Thom. Phnom Penh remained the royal capital for 73 years. Later kings abandoned it. They moved the capital several times.
King Norodom I made Phnom Penh the permanent capital in 1866. French colonial authorities then developed the city. They built hotels, schools, and public offices. By the 1920s, Phnom Penh was known as the Pearl of Asia.
During the Vietnam War, refugees flooded Phnom Penh. They escaped fighting. By 1975, the population was two to three million. The Khmer Rouge forcibly evacuated the city. This was a death march. They sought a return to an agrarian economy.
Vietnamese forces drove the Khmer Rouge out in 1979. People began to return. Reconstruction began. Foreign investment and aid came in. By 2019, Phnom Penh’s population was over two million.
Phnom Penh is surrounded by Kandal province. It lies on the banks of the Tonlé Sap, Mekong, and Bassac Rivers. These rivers provide fresh water. The city is in a flood plain area.
Phnom Penh has a tropical wet and dry climate. Temperatures range from 22 to 35 degrees Celsius. The southwest monsoon brings moisture. The dry season lasts from December to April.
Phnom Penh is an autonomous municipality. It is divided into 14 administrative divisions. These are called khans. All khans are under Phnom Penh’s governance.
The state religion is Theravada Buddhism. Most people in Phnom Penh are Buddhists. Some follow Islam or Christianity.
Phnom Penh is Cambodia’s economic centre. It accounts for a large portion of the economy. Tourism is a major contributor.
Phnom Penh hosts many universities and colleges. These include the Royal University of Phnom Penh. The city also has primary, secondary, and high schools.
Phnom Penh has its own Khmer dialect. It is known for eliding syllables. The city is also known for New Khmer Architecture.
Phnom Penh celebrates Cambodian New Year. This is popular with tourists. People throw water during this time. The Water Festival celebrates the reversing of the Tonlé Sap River’s flow.
The oldest structure is Wat Phnom. It was constructed in 1373. The Royal Palace and National Museum are main attractions. They were built during the French colonial era.
Phnom Penh underwent tremendous growth in the 1950s and 1960s. New Khmer Architecture emerged. This fused Bauhaus with traditional elements.
The Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Choeung Ek Genocide Center commemorate the Khmer Rouge era.
Phnom Penh’s population grew dramatically in the 1990s and early 2000s. This led to infrastructure challenges. Several satellite cities are planned.
Phnom Penh’s water supply has improved dramatically since 1993.
Phnom Penh is twinned with several cities. These include Bangkok and Beijing.
Phum Thormmatray remains a part of this evolving story. It contributes to the larger identity of Phnom Penh. It is a testament to Cambodia’s resilience. The hamlet stands as a quiet witness. It sees the city’s transformations. It stands here with an average elevation of 36 feet.