Standing in the shadow of famous Siem Reap and busy Phnom Penh, Battambang is the second largest city in Cambodia. It is still not very popular destination in Cambodia and atranquil atmospheremake the city a perfect destination for a relaxing holiday.
Battambang is located in the Northwestern side of Cambodia and has some of the best preserved French colonial architecture in Cambodia. The charming city is full of modern cafes and art galleries – with exhibits of best local artists. All this is set along the riverfront area. Here is a list of 8 things to do in Battambang
1. Phnom Banan
The magnificent 11th century Phnom Banan ruins are located 22 kilometers to the south of Battambang. At the base of the hills, you face over 350 stone steps lead to the incredible Prasat Banan with the panoramic view of the Battambang’s traditional livelihoods. Interesting fact is that the temple with five characteristic towers, was often associated with the construction of Angkor Wat. It is very pleasant area to take a deep breath and go wonder to the Khmer Empire times.
2. Bamboo Train
In teh past, the bamboo train was an essential solution to transport people and food in nearby villages. Today, it is a main tourist attraction in Battambang. The well-known norry is a wooden platform on wheels set on the single track and powered by engine. The ride takes you to the nearby village with a speed of up to 30 km/h.
It lasts around 15min or it may take a little longer, when the other norry comes toward 🙂
3. Rice paper production
There is a village known as the rice paper village on the outskirts of the city, where you can learn more about the unique and local production of rice paper for spring rolls. Family production is very famous and it’s indicated as the best in the country. Cambodian rice paper is exported to neighboring Thailand and Laos.
4. Ek Phnom
Located 11 km away from Battambang, the Wat Ek Phnom ruins stand on the background of a huge statue of sitting Buddha and next to a modern pagoda. It is a picturesque area with the gorgeous view of the lake and it’s surrounded by unique 18 Bodhi trees. The Wat Ek Phnom is a popular spot among locals who visit this place at the weekend.
5. Try bamboo sticky rice
The sweet, roasted dessert is served in a thick bamboo tube and cooked on the hot coals. It is a typical Cambodian treat filled with rice, black beans, sugar and coconut milk. And honestly, it tastes delicious! Specially served by local lady in a rural village of Battambang.
6. Fish market
The popular fish market set in the countryside of Battambang is a slightly wet warehouse, where Cambodian families prepare prahok – the traditional fish paste. It is spicy and salted with a specific flavor sauce used to all dishes in Cambodian houses. I am not a very sensitive girl, but the smell of the fermented fish in the market was enough to knock me out. However, I still think that it’s worth to see 🙂 It gives you a simple example of this Cambodian treat.
7. Killing Caves of Phnon Sampou
Today a memorial place and a popular tourist attraction. In the past, the field of brutal murders during the Khmer Rouge massacre. On the bottom of a huge cave there is a monument created from the bones of the killed ones. Phnon Sampou was built to memories this tragic event.
8. Bat Cave
Every day during the sunset, there is a spectacular performance and the main actors are bats, yes, exactly! This is a pretty great experience to see millions of bats fly out of the dark cave to start the night hunting.
Vising the small villages in the district of Battambang, gave me an unique lesson of appreciation. It is a real eye-opening experience. The rural areas of Battambang are some of the poorest in Cambodia. Almost half of the residents live on less than one dollar a day. However, I still received lots of smiles and kind welcomes from locals.
If you would like to explore more popular destinations in Southeast Asia, you can also choose a planned Vietnam Laos Cambodia tour, which allows you to travel all the three countries in limited days.