Phnom Udong—Kandal Province, Cambodia. - Buddhist Temples and Public Shrines on Waymarking.com

The small town of Oudong (Udong) lies ~40kms to the north of Phnom Penh. In times past (1618-1866) it was the capital of the Kingdom of Cambodia, but now a quiet backwater, not even the capital of its province, however, the town is adjacent to Phnom Udong (Udong Hill), a hill with a trove of Cambodian Bhuddist stupas and shrines (including a small mosque). These stupas contain the earthly relics of former Cambodian kings.

A day trip from Phnom Penh to explore this site is a worthwhile expenditure of time. Expect to take an hour plus to reach, depending on the traffic. A tuk tuk for a day is $25, there are public bus options. Once you reach the hill your starting point will be the carpark. On weekends there is a flea market. Lots of entrepreneurial hustle and bustle, but nothing too flash on sale; old clothes, do-hickies, motor bike parts, food and drink.

To reach the hilltop you must ascend 500+ steps from the carpark (your tuk tuk driver will sleep in the tuk tuk, awaiting your return). The first stupa you will see is new, and the most significant. The stupa contains the Buddha relics moved from Phnom Penh train station stupa. From here there is a trail heading due south along the hill top, with lots of ups and downs over a semi-broken path. Take it easy, and take some water.

The next stupa south is Chedi Damrei Sam Poan, which holds the remains of King Soriyopor. Next is Chedi Trai Trang, built by King Norodom to house the remains of his father King Ang Duong. It is distinctive for its yellow colour and four Bayon-style faces at the top. Again next is Chedi Mouk Pruhm, a bland concrete affair holding the remains of King Monivong.

Past the stupas are several temples of various sizes, states of disrepair, and historical/cultural significance. One of these is the under repair Arthaross temple, a massive enclosure which was badly damaged by the Kymer Rouge, and which now houses a new, large Buddha image.


This path is replete with beggars. Efficiently, at the base of the steps you can change US dollars (the major currency of Cambodia) into low denomination Riel notes (the Cambodian currency of Cambodia). A dollar goes a long way in Cambodia. A gift of 25c (1,000 Riel) is adequate. You can also leave money for the upkeep of the hill in baskets marked with your animal spirit.

As a foreigner, you will be approached by a gaggle of local children. These children will be your guides, who, with a mix of limited English and enthusiasm, at having a westerner to talk to, show you around the hill and get most, or at least some of the details, correct. You can refuse their services, but if you do others will approach and pester you. You will also be told how poor they and their families are (true), how much the children want to study English (50/50), and how much they need money (true). You will probably also be told about how they want a bike, or a computer or something (these children are better than a MBA at marketing). A payment of $1 is a fair price for their services, and a meal for 50c, to ensure that they have one good meal a day.

On weekdays the hill is near deserted, but on weekends the road from Phnom Penh is filled with Cambodians enjoying their day(s) off by journeying to this sacred Buddhist site to show their respect to their cultural and historical background. Also to relax in the quiet, cool rural area, picnic, shop at the 'flea market', enjoy a drink, meet friends, and generally unwind. Also, of course, hordes of teenagers socially interacting.

The site is on the UNESCO World Heritage Tentative List.


Information from: travelfish.org. Wikipedia lonelyplanet

Open to visitors?: Yes Photography Permitted Inside?: Yes Statue of the Buddha present?: Yes Related Website: [Web Link]

Visit Instructions:
Include in your log one or two complete sentences. Logs containing a few words like "visited it" are subject to deletion.

Photos of the shrine are strongly encouraged when permitted otherwise please refrain from taking pictures inside and in any case, generally have respect for the religious nature of the site.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.