CAMBODIA (Asia)

Write a review or view peoples experiences in Cambodia.	Hotels in Cambodia	Flights	Car Hire/Rental

Want to contribute to the writings of this travel guide? If so, Click here

Angkor

For many travellers the allure of an unspoilt and little explored country is irresistible. Emerging from a violent past of atrocities, war and political instability, Cambodia is slowly becoming a top destination on the South East Asia travel map. The magnificent temples of the 'Lost City' of Angkor are an overpowering attraction that, despite the dangers of unexploded landmines and the threat of rural banditry, is a must-see for the determined traveller.

Modern day Cambodia is the successor kingdom of the powerful Khmer Empire which ruled most of what is today Vietnam, Laos and Thailand during the 9th to 14th centuries. Although the country doesn't have the same volume of attractions as some of its neighbours, the Khmer people are the friendliest and most likeable in the area. Visiting Cambodia can be a beautiful experience of friendly conversations, smiles and polite bows, as well as a journey of fascinating history. One can also search for the charms of the French-era capital city Phnom Penh, visit the tragic horrors of the Killing Fields or drift past sleepy riverside locations on a boat trip.

The scenery is beautiful with lush green forests and jungle, banana plantations, fields of agriculture and mighty rivers. Cambodia is a country of simple lifestyles and a largely rural populace. It is not a place of fast and efficient transport or luxurious hotels and resort living. Infrastructure is not a commonly used word and getting between places can be half the fun, but with world class attractions as well as areas still awaiting discovery, golden beaches and islands inviting exploration by the enterprising traveller, it sits like a pearl in an unopened oyster.

Cambodia is the successor - state of the mighty Khmer Empire, which ruled much of what is now Vietnam, Laos and Thailand. Among the achievements of Khmer civilisation are the magisterial temples of Angkor. There is no other historical site in South - East Asia that matches the grandeur of this ancient complex. Apart from the wonders of Angkor, Cambodia has a rich and proud culture, a charming French-era capital (albeit a little weathered) and impressive natural scenery.

Present - day Cambodia is bloodied and bowed after two decades of internecine war and the July 1997 collapse of shaky UN - sponsored democratic reforms. The ramifications of Hun Sen's violent assumption of power and the death of Pol Pot remain to be seen. The question on everyone's mind when visiting Cambodia is, how safe is it If you stick to Phnom Penh, its surrounding attractions and Angkor you should be fine. This is one country where heading off the beaten track is just plain stupid.

Very little is known about prehistoric Cambodia, although archeological evidence has established that prior to 1000 BC Cambodians subsisted on a diet of fish and rice and lived in houses on stilts, as they still do today. From the 1st to the 6th centuries, much of Cambodia belonged to the South - East Asian kingdom of Funan, which played a vital role in developing the political institutions, culture and art of later Khmer states. However, it was the Angkorian era, beginning  in  the  8th  century,  that  really  transformed the kingdom into an artistic and religious power.