Many people who are interested in visiting Cambodia will probably have heard of the temples at Angkor Wat. Whilst these are definitely an attraction that should be seen when visiting the country, it is also worth having a look at the many other tombs, temples and religious sites. Whereas Angkor Wat can become quite crowded with tourists and locals, many of the other sites are quieter but still give you a real sense of the rich history of the Cambodian people.

One attraction well worth visiting is the Royal Tombs of Oudong. You will find that this site is relatively quiet during the week and this is the recommended time to go. It can be a bit more crowded at the weekends with wedding ceremonies being held here by the local people. Oudong was once the capital of Cambodia; this changed in the late 1800s when King Norodom moved the capital to the current one, Phnom Penh, and built the Royal palace there. Oudong lies approximately 40 kilometres north west of Phnom Penh and can easily be reached by hiring a car or a motorcycle for the day. Some tour operators provide day trips to the Royal Tombs of Oudong for as little as US$5. It is also possible to take a bus from Phnom Penh directly to Oudong.

The Royal Tombs of Oudong are home to over 200 years worth of remains of rulers of Cambodia. The tombs are situated on a hill known as Phnom Oudong and there are several stupas dotted along the east-west ridge to be explored and admired. On the western side of the hill, you will first encounter the Wat Preah Thom. This building was erected by the Chinese in the 13th century and houses a giant Buddha made from stone. This statue was damaged during the Khmer Rouge years but is still worth a viewing.

Moving eastwards along the ridge of Phnom Oudong, you will find several viharas (original “dwelling places” for monks) that are dedicated to the sacred bulls, Preah Ko and his brother Preah Keo. You then continue in a northeast direction up the ridge to reach the royal stupas (tombs). The first stupa you will reach is that of King Sisowath Monivong, who died in 1941. His tomb is in a beautiful yellow colour with ornate decoration including lovingly restored carved elephants. There are four Bayon style faces on the top of this tomb which reflect some of the early culture of Cambodia. The adjacent stupa is thought to be that of King Ang Doung and his wife. Although in need of repair, it still has some brightly painted tiles which reflect how this magnificent structure once looked.

This leads you on to the third stupa which is the Damrei Sam Poan, which contains the ashes of King Soriyopor. The last of the stupas is a recently built one and is home to a golden urn that reputedly holds the ashes of Buddha himself. This stupa was completed in 2002 and the remains were moved to Oudong from Phnom Penh with a large and very grand procession, which had thousands of followers!

Descending on the eastern staircase from the summit of Phnom Oudong, you will come across a small but significant monument. This monument was erected to honour the victims that perished at the hands of the Khmer Rouge in the nearby detention centre. The monument includes displays of some of the skulls and bones that were exhumed in the 1980s.