The Kingdom of Cambodia

Cambodia is small gorgeous country to be explored a in the Southeast Asia. There are a lot of such beautiful things to do and visit while indulgently soaking in Cambodia’s ancestral Angkor temples, historical masterpieces as well as its rich cultures. From the magnificent Angkor complex to the largest fresh water lake in the Asia, the coastal lines and beaches are exclusive destinations for relaxation while the fresh seafood is a must. Cambodia’s enthusiasm is infectious. It’s a country looking forward to the future and is delighted to share its future with new visitors. It is the rising phoenix of Asia, and yet its people are some of the most friendly and hospitable you will find anywhere in the world.  It’s the people that help to make Cambodia such a joyful place to visit.

When to go & visit Cambodia?
Cambodia’s climate is monsoonal and has marked wet and dry seasons of relatively equal length. Both temperature and humidity generally are high throughout the year. Forest covers about two-thirds of the country, but it has been somewhat degraded in the more readily accessible areas by burning (a method called slash-and-burn agriculture), and by shifting agriculture. The best time to visit Cambodia is from middle October to February when the weather is a bit cool and everything looks green.

History
The people who are living around the country today, at least has begun since the 5th millennium before BC. The ancient Funan largely controlled territory during that time, Funan culture heavily influenced by Hinduism. Chenla then occurred. Khmer Empire knew its golden age from the 9th to the 13th century when marvelous temple buildings were constructed and the most remarkable construction is Angkor Wat.
Spanish and Portuguese missionaries visited this country dating back from the 16th century and the country became a French protectorate in the 19th century and managed as part of French Indochina. Cambodia became an independent kingdom in 1953 under the leadership of King Norodom Sihanouk. Vietnam War spread into Cambodia and caused a recovery of the Khmer Rouge, which captured Phnom Penh in 1975 and continued to campaign mass killing. Following the Vietnamese invasion, the Khmer Rouge was overthrown and the Republic was established. After several years of isolation from other nations that were broken by the war, a unified national reconstruction under the monarchy in 1993, and has recognized the increased economic rapidly and is when to rebuild the country from the civil war for many decades.

Geography
Cambodia is a country in Southeastern Asia, bordering the Gulf of Thailand, between Thailand, Vietnam, and Laos. Its approximate geographical coordinates are 13°N 105°E / 13°N 105°E. Its 2,572 km border is split among Vietnam (1,228 km), Thailand (803 km) and Laos (541 km), as well as 443 km of coastline. Cambodia covers 181,040 square kilometres in the southwestern part of the Indochina peninsula.

The climate is monsoonal and has marked wet and dry seasons of relatively equal length. Both temperature and humidity generally are high throughout the year. Forest covers about two-thirds of the country, but it has been somewhat degraded in the more readily accessible areas by burning (a method called slash-and-burn agriculture), and by shifting agriculture. The Mekong river and Tonle Sap Lake join. Mekong river basically runs through Asia except for some countries. The Mekong is the 12th Longest river in the world.

Total area 181,035 square kilometers; country shares 803-kilometer border with Thailand on north and west, 541-kilometer border with Laos on northeast, 1,228-kilometer border with Vietnam on east and southeast, for a total of 2,572 kilometers of land borders; coastline along Gulf of Thailand about 443 kilometers.

Fast Facts
– Name: Cambodia (long form) Kingdom of Cambodia
– Capital City: Phnom Penh (2,234,566 pop.)
– Cambodia Population: 15,474,460 (2014 est.)
– Currency: Riel (KHR)
– Ethnicity: Khmer 90%, Vietnamese 5%, Chinese 1%, other 4%
– GDP total: $39.64 billion (2013 est.)
– GDP per capita: $2,600 (2013 est.)
– Land Sizes: 181,035 square kilometers
– Language: Khmer (official) 95%, French, English
– Largest Cities: (by population) Phnom Penh, Sihanoukville, Battambang
– Name: The English Cambodia comes from the French word “Cambodge” which is a contraction of the Sanskrit name Kambojadesa
– National Day: November 9
– Religion: Buddhist (official) 96.4%, Muslim 2.1%, other 1.3%, unspecified 0.2%

The Capital of Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city of Cambodia. Located on the banks of the Mekong River, Phnom Penh has been the national capital since the French colonization of Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation’s center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security, politics, cultural heritage, and diplomacy of Cambodia. Once known as the “Pearl of Asia”, it was considered one of the loveliest French-built cities in Indochina in the 1920s. This beautiful capital also features such attractions, history and culture, along with many opportunities to sample the local culture of Cambodia. Here, the colonial legacy endures with spired pagodas and markets all this is evidence of the intense energy of the city’s roads.
The famous riverside, are meeting of small pubs, bars and popular restaurants. There are stores that offer products made from beautiful silk and chic galleries on either side of the road. In addition to the very fine art and entertainment, nightlife, you will understand why Phnom Penh is a very cute and a such travel destination for tourists.

Siem Reap
The most fascinating attractive region of Cambodia, which literally means the “Defeat of Siam”, is the most prosperous region of contemporary Cambodia.  Its close proximity to the Angkor Wat temple complex has turned the city into one of the world’s premier travel destinations. The primary attraction for visitors to Siem Reap is the Angkor Wat and the Angkor Temple Region, which blankets more than 300km of northwestern Cambodia. Travelers can’t dramatically leave Cambodia without a visit at Angkor War. Besides Angkor Wat, there are hundreds of interesting ancient temples and the largest freshwater lake “Tonle Sap” to be explored.

Sihanoukville
Sihanoukville is a province in southwest Cambodia known for its beautiful beaches, tropical islands and the mangrove jungles of Ream National Park. Set around a deep-water port on a peninsula jutting into the Gulf of Thailand, the provincial capital of Sihanoukville is lined with palm-fringed beaches, seafood restaurants and late-night bars. Overlooking the capital is the hilltop Buddhist temple of Wat Leu.
Koh Rong and Koh Rong Saleom are the greatest, less touristy islands of the province and tourists come around to relax, , sunbathing, enjoy the breathtaking and fresh seafood is very awesome.

Kep
The city was founded in 1908 during French colonial rule and was originally named Kep sur mer. Many of the French style villas are overgrown and run-down, but Kep is slowly being redeveloped and tourism is reemerging. The colonial influence is noticeable in the city’s Provencal-style architecture and French cuisine. Kep is also famous by its Koh Tonsay (Rabbit island), is located 4.6 km south of Kep and can be reached by boat from Kep port. Tourists are drawn to the beautiful white sand beach overlooking the sea. The sea here is shallow and the sea bottom has a long gradual slope, making Koh Thonsay excellent for swimming. At the sea bottom are a variety of corals, sea animals and plants which attract researchers and ecologists.

Battambang
The second largest city of Cambodia and well known as “The Rice of Bowl” meaning Battambang is the most important region that supplies hundreds sacks of qualified rice to the country as well as to oversea. Battambang is an ideal destination to explore its beautiful rural glory. The rice pappies and traditional stilt houses stretching throughout the province, are still visually visible. Historical and natural aspects ultimately bring visitors unique experience either homestay or adventure and it is the home of breathtaking destination. A day of life basing on farming and different ways that local people creating for living is so interesting that traveler should spend more than a day to experience its charming landscapes especial the Bamboo train is a challenge.