Wat Phnom
វត្តភ្នំ
The hilltop pagoda that gave Phnom Penh its name. Lady Penh is said to have founded it in 1372 after finding Buddha images in the river.
Quick facts
- Pass Type
- Separate Ticket
- Entry Fee USD
- $1
- Opening Hours
- 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Commissioning King
- —
- Century Built
- 14th Century
- Religion & Primary Deity
- Buddhist · Buddha
- Circuit
- City Pagoda
- Distance from Siem Reap
- 320 km
- Best Time to Visit
- Early morning, before the gardens fill and the heat sits on the stair
Nicknames and famous highlights
History and architecture
The founding story says Daun Penh, a wealthy widow, pulled a koki tree from the Mekong in 1372 with four Buddha statues caught in its branches, then raised a shrine on the only hill nearby. The city took the name Phnom Penh, Penh's hill. The vihara has been rebuilt many times. The building on the hill today dates from a 1926 reconstruction. It is a busy Theravada pilgrimage site, with resident macaques in the gardens and a small ticket for foreign visitors. It has no connection to the Angkor Pass.
How to get to Wat Phnom
No origin routes are published yet. See every temple in Phnom Penh.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to visit Wat Phnom?
Wat Phnom charges a separate ticket of $1. The pass recorded here is Separate Ticket.
What are the opening hours of Wat Phnom?
Wat Phnom is listed as open 7:00 AM - 6:00 PM. Best time to visit: Early morning, before the gardens fill and the heat sits on the stair.
Who built Wat Phnom?
14th Century, 1372, dedicated to Buddha. The religion recorded here is Buddhist.
What is Wat Phnom known for?
Also called Temple Mountain of Phnom Penh. Known for Founding legend of Phnom Penh, Hilltop vihara, Gardens and resident monkeys, Shrine of Daun Penh. Filed under Monkey Temples