Battambang

Unlike the busy and fancy capital Phnom Penh with its crowded and lively scenes, Battambang - the second largest city in Cambodia - looks like a calm and quiet countryside. Visiting this peaceful city will give tourists many interesting experiences. Let's explore this fascinating city with Asia King Travel!  

History of Battambang

Battambang used to be the center of the eastern Siam region until 1909 when the French colonialists took it from Siam under the guise of protection, and in 1953 Battambang became part of Cambodia.

Today, "rice bowl of Cambodia" focuses on developing sustainable nature tourism with many interesting experiences for tourists visiting the city.

Battambang focuses on developing sustainable nature tourism (Cre: roma.lim)

How to get there?

To see the simple natural scenery with small villages, rice fields, and farms, giving tourists a great chance to enjoy the unpolluted Cambodian countryside, you should go to Battambang by bus or car.

Additionally, you can travel from Siem Reap to Battambang by boat, enhancing your experience when visiting Battambang. However, traveling by boat will take more time and be more expensive. 

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The best time to visit Battambang

When is the best time to travel to Battambang? This is certainly a question many travel enthusiasts ask. This province has a tropical monsoon climate, so from around May to October is the rainy season, which can cause floods, so it's best to avoid traveling during this time. 

The best time to explore Battambang province is from November to April, when the weather is cool and suitable for many outdoor activities for tourists. 

Battambang has a tropical monsoon climate (Cre: roma.lim)

Some famous places in Battambang

Ek Phnom

As an 11th-century Angkor period ruin in the Hindu style, it was built during the reign of King Suryavarman I. The towers were constructed on a large terrace with some beautifully carved stone reliefs still remaining. Ek Phnom Temple is a newly built temple next to the ruins. The road from Battambang to Ek Phnom passes through some very beautiful villages. 

Ek Phnom Temple is a newly built temple next to the ruins (Cre: _elchorche_)

Phnom Sampeu

Sampeu Hill is a place that bears the marks of war, with the Killing Cave used to store the bodies of war victims from the past. Visitors here can feel like they are reliving the days of war and can sense the pain and loss caused by the conflict. Additionally, there is a peaceful temple here that holds the bones of the war victims in glass cases.

Sampeu Pagoda is located on the top of the mountain with stairs leading up. There are quite a few caves here that were used as execution sites during the Khmer Rouge era, and remnants of the victims' bones still remain. The pagoda itself is not particularly special, but the surrounding scenery is very beautiful. 

Sampeu Pagoda is located on the top of the mountain with stairs leading up (Cre: kimkim.com)

Phnom Banan

Built during the Angkor period, Phnom Banan Temple consists of five towers with beautiful scenery and a fresh, peaceful atmosphere. When visiting this temple, you can also explore the L’Ang But Meas cave and the 150-year-old pagoda right at the foot of the mountain. 

Phnom Banan Temple consists of five towers with beautiful scenery and a fresh (Cre: chaoslin88)

Exploring local villages and cuisine in Battambang

Exploring local villages

Explore the unique aspects of local life in Battambang, such as riding the bamboo train or rowing a boat from the village of Ksach Poy.

The bamboo train is a creative and unique form of transport used by the locals. It is a small bamboo platform with a motorcycle engine and four railway wheels. The bamboo train offers a different experience for tourists visiting Battambang.

Additionally, the boat trip from the village of Ksach Poy allows you to enjoy the peaceful natural scenery and the simple daily life along the riverbanks. This journey will surely help you forget your worries and relax after tiring days.

The bamboo train is a creative and unique form of transport used by the locals (Cre: matadornetwork)

Exploring cuisine 

When traveling to Battambang, you can enjoy countless Cambodian specialties such as red curry, steamed Amok fish, pork rice, etc. There are also plenty of restaurants and eateries to choose from, serving Asian, Western, Thai and Vietnamese dishes.

A special feature of Battambang is that visitors can cook Cambodian dishes themselves by taking some cooking classes.

When traveling to Battambang, you can enjoy countless Cambodian specialties (Cre: theculturetrip)

Some tips when traveling to Battambang

Some things you need to prepare to make your trip to Battambang better are cash, necessary items, and enjoying the interesting things here.

• Cash: Bring some cash to make shopping in Battambang more convenient, as there aren't many ATMs here.
• Necessary items: Equip yourself with necessary items such as an umbrella, sun protection, and light clothing suitable for the Cambodian weather.
• Enjoy the interesting experiences in Battambang: Enjoy the atmosphere, the people, and the natural scenery when traveling in Battambang, which will help you have memorable experiences.

Some things you need to prepare to make your trip to Battambang (Cre: just_notch) 

Conclusion 

Choosing to travel to Battambang province is a combination of history, culture and natural beauty. This place has become a must-see destination for those who want to explore the true beauty of Cambodia.
Hopefully this article by Asia King Travel will bring you useful information about this province and interesting things for tourists when choosing Battambang as a tourist destination.

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