Phnom Penh the capital city of Cambodia, is the biggest downtown in the country, it is a small city in Asia. Previously known as the ‘Pearl of Asia’, it inherits a rich virtuous legacy, which the distinct architectural styles could be seen in the buildings of the city, with the retainable conventional Khmer, antique Angkorian design, and French influences in its architecture. For decades of years, Phnom Penh has experienced eventful history but in recent years, it is ultimately making successful efforts towards its development.  Those sights cause a feel and conjure up an image of the exotic from people afar.

WAT PHNOM AND PHNOM PENH – 1372

Legend of Old Lady Penh and the Discovery of Wat Phnom Daun Penh

Before 1372, there was not yet called “Phnom Penh”, it was still the name of the former Capital, “Chaktomuk” later on called “Wat Phnom Daun Penh” then people called that place (the hill) “Wat Phnom”, which surrounded the river. The meaning of this name is that “Wat” is meant a pagoda or temple. And “Phnom” is meant a mountain (here refer to hill as well), and “Daun” is a respectful word to call an old lady (or Granny). Then ”Penh” is the name of the old granny. The whole phrase means “Granny Penh’s Pagoda Hill or Hill Temple”. The name Phnom Penh (literally, “Penh’s Hill”) is coming from that phrase too. So why does it call like that? About the origins of the name, the locals circulate a touching story.

A long and long time ago, there was full and covered over by water and the water has a high ground. Then on the high ground has some residents living there. An inhabitant was the old woman name “Penh”, who is rich, kind, and gets along with all of her neighborhood harmonies. People respect her very much, and everyone affectionately called her “Daun Penh” or “Granny Penh or Lady Penh”.

One day early morning, the wealthy widow “Daun Penh” came to the riverside for the water, she found a tree floating down the Tonle Sap River nearby after a storm. Inside the tree were four bronze Buddha statues and a stone statue of Vishnu. She saw those statues, as a devoted Buddhist follower herself she should do good deeds. Then she invited her neighbors as well as the villagers to do a solemn ceremony to house those statues. Together with villagers to raise the height of the hill northeast of her house and she used the Koki wood to build a temple on the hill to house the four Buddha statues, and a shrine for the Vishnu image slightly lower down. Afterward, in order to commemorate the great Lady Penh people called the temple Wat Phnom Daun Penh, which is now known as Wat Phnom, a small hill 27 meters (89 ft) in height.