The year is 1372. Can you picture the powerful Mekong River surging around us? It’s in this turbulent water that an extraordinary event occurred that would shape the destiny of Phnom Penh. A wealthy widow named Daun Penh spotted a koki tree bobbing along the flooded river. Intrigued, she called upon villagers to help her retrieve it. What they discovered inside the hollow trunk amazed everyone. Four stunning Buddha statues, crafted from bronze, brass, and marble, were nestled within. Deeply moved by this discovery, Daun Penh saw it as a divine message. She ordered the construction of a small hill to house these sacred relics. On its peak, they built a humble wooden temple, a beacon of peace and spirituality. This, my friends, was the very first structure of Wat Phnom, and it’s believed to be the event that gave Phnom Penh its name, “Penh’s Hill”. As you gaze upon the majestic Statue of Daun Penh, remember her legacy. She is more than just a figure of bronze; she is the embodiment of Phnom Penh’s origins, a testament to the city’s deep-seated faith, and a protector watching over her namesake city even today.
Por Sen Chey District Land Management, Urban Planning, Construction and Cadastral Survey Bureau
Picture this We stand before the Por Sen Chey District Land Management Urban Planning Construction and Cadastral Survey Bureau a