Battambang
Encyclopedia
Battambang is the capital city of Battambang province
Battambang Province
Battambang is a province in northwestern Cambodia. It is bordered to the North with Banteay Meanchey, to the West with Thailand, and to the East and South with Pursat. The capital of the province is the city of Battambang. The name, meaning 'lost staff', refers to the legend of Preah Bat Dambang...
in northwestern Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
.
Battambang is the second-largest city in Cambodia with a population of over 250,000. Founded in the 11th century by the Khmer Empire
Khmer Empire
The Khmer Empire was one of the most powerful empires in Southeast Asia. The empire, which grew out of the former kingdom of Chenla, at times ruled over and/or vassalized parts of modern-day Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, and Malaysia. Its greatest legacy is Angkor, the site of the capital city...
, Battambang is well known for being the leading rice-producing province of the country. For over 500 years, it was the main commercial hub of Siam's Eastern Provinces, though it was always populated by Khmer with a mix of ethnic Vietnamese, Lao, Thai and Chinese. Still today Battambang is the main hub of the Northwest connecting the entire region with Phnom Penh
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 colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
and Thailand
Thailand
Thailand , officially the Kingdom of Thailand , formerly known as Siam , is a country located at the centre of the Indochina peninsula and Southeast Asia. It is bordered to the north by Burma and Laos, to the east by Laos and Cambodia, to the south by the Gulf of Thailand and Malaysia, and to the...
, and as such it’s a vital link to Cambodia
Cambodia
Cambodia , officially known as the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country located in the southern portion of the Indochina Peninsula in Southeast Asia...
.
The city is situated by the Sangker River
Sangker River
The Sangker River is a river in Battambang Province in western Cambodia. The river drains into the Tonle Sap lake. It flows through the provincial capital of Battambang itself....
, a tranquil, small body of water that winds its way through Battambang Province
Battambang Province
Battambang is a province in northwestern Cambodia. It is bordered to the North with Banteay Meanchey, to the West with Thailand, and to the East and South with Pursat. The capital of the province is the city of Battambang. The name, meaning 'lost staff', refers to the legend of Preah Bat Dambang...
providing its nice picturesque setting. As with much of Cambodia, the French Colonial architecture is an attractive bonus of the city. It is home to some of the best-preserved, French colonial architecture in the country.
With a $36,000 financial grant from Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk
Novo Nordisk manufactures and markets pharmaceutical products and services. Created in 1989 through a merger of two Danish companies dating back to the 1920s, it has become one of the world's leading companies in diabetes care, where Novo Nordisk pursues research into pulmonary delivery systems;...
and financial support from the World Diabetes Foundation, one of two diabetes clinics was built in the town- the other was built in Kampong Thom.
History
Battambang was established as an important trading city with around 2,500 residents in the 18th century. They lived mostly along a single road parallel to the Sangker RiverSangker River
The Sangker River is a river in Battambang Province in western Cambodia. The river drains into the Tonle Sap lake. It flows through the provincial capital of Battambang itself....
. In 1795 Thailand annexed much of northwestern Cambodia including the provinces of Battambang and Siem Reap
Siam Nakhon Province
Siam Nakhon is the name of a former Thai province. It was a changwat of Thailand, but was ceded to French Indochina in 1906. The name of Siam Nakhon was later changed to Siem Reap in Cambodian....
. The Abhaiwongse family
Abhaiwongse
Abhaiwongse is a Thai surname.The Abhaiwongse family governed Phra Tabong Province, Thailand for six generations between the late 18th century and 1907, when the territory was ceded to French Indochina...
rule Battambang for six generations which lasted until 1907 when the province was ceded to the French to be part of their Indochina
French Indochina
French Indochina was part of the French colonial empire in southeast Asia. A federation of the three Vietnamese regions, Tonkin , Annam , and Cochinchina , as well as Cambodia, was formed in 1887....
colony.
Following the colonization of the French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
in Battambang the colonial administration developed an urban layout which enlarged the size of the French colonial town. In the first time development, they constructed a grid pattern of well-defined streets, put in the urban structures and built three main streets parallel to the Sangker River, connected the both side with two bridges in 1917. Military purposes and prison infrastructures were erected inside the compound. 19 years later, a second urban development plan was created with a newly constructed railway
Rail transport in Cambodia
Cambodia has of metre gauge rail network, consisting of two lines originally constructed during the time when the country was part of French Indochina...
linked from Battambang to Phnom Penh
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 colonized Cambodia, and has grown to become the nation's center of economic and industrial activities, as well as the center of security,...
. The urban structure was extended to the west of the town, featuring some important urban axes orienting on the railway station. Many outstanding buildings like residential villas and significant public buildings were constructed during that period. According to the third urban development plan for Battambang, a large extension was planned for the north, east and south of the city. The urban layout was technically planned and required long-term thinking to create an urban axis corresponding to the existing urban layout from the former period. Battambang grew as a modern provincial capital, and became the most developed part of all provinces in Cambodia.
Several large infrastructures and public facilities were built under the modernization program of the Cambodian government under Prince Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk
Norodom Sihanouk regular script was the King of Cambodia from 1941 to 1955 and again from 1993 until his semi-retirement and voluntary abdication on 7 October 2004 in favor of his son, the current King Norodom Sihamoni...
. Several provincial departments, the court house and other public administrations were set up on both sides of the river. Textile and garment factories were built by French and Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
investors, the Battambang Airport
Battambang Airport
Battambang Airport is an airport serving Battambang, a city in Battambang Province, Cambodia.-Facilities:The airport resides at an elevation of above mean sea level. It has one runway designed 07/25 with an asphalt surface measuring ....
was constructed, and the railway line was developed to reach Poipet
Poipet
Poipet is a Cambodian town on the Cambodia/Thailand border, in Ou Chrov district, Banteay Meanchey Province. It is a key crossing point between the two countries, and also extremely popular as a gambling destination as gambling is popular, but illegal in Thailand...
. Numerous schools and a university were built. A sports centre, museum and an exhibition hall were constructed to serve the cultural needs of the growing population.
Climate
Attractions
Baset Templewas built during the reign of King Suryavarman II
Suryavarman II
Suryavarman II was king of the Khmer Empire from 1113 AD to 1145-1150 AD and the builder of Angkor Wat, which he dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu...
(1002–1050) and located on a hill at Baset village, Ta Pun commune in 15 kilometres (9 mi) distance from the provincial town. Baset temple adapts the architecture of 11th century and built in 1036 and 1042. Next to the temple, there is a pond having 20 metres (66 ft) length 12 metres (39 ft) width and 10 metres (33 ft) depth. The pond is never dried, though in the dry season. In rainy season, the water level is higher than usual.
Wat Ek Temple
adapts the architecture of 11th century and built in 1027 during the reign of King Suryavarman II
Suryavarman II
Suryavarman II was king of the Khmer Empire from 1113 AD to 1145-1150 AD and the builder of Angkor Wat, which he dedicated to the Hindu god Vishnu...
(1002–1050). It is located at Piem Ek commune in 14 kilometres (9 mi) from the provincial town.
Banan Temple
adapts the architecture of mid 11th century and the end of 12th century the temple was first built by King Dharanindravarman II
Dharanindravarman II
Dharanindravarman II was king of the Khmer Empire from 1150 to 1160. His son Jayavarman VII would become known as one of the most ambitious builders of Angkor, the empire's capital.-External links:*...
(1050–1066) and was built finally built by the King Jayavarman VII
Jayavarman VII
Jayavarman VII was a king of the Khmer Empire in present day Siem Reap, Cambodia. He was the son of King Dharanindravarman II and Queen Sri Jayarajacudamani. He married Jayarajadevi and then, after her death, married her sister Indradevi...
(1181–1220). The temple is located on the top of approximate 400 metres (1,312.3 ft) heighten mountain at Koh Tey 2 commune, Banan District in 15 kilometres (9 mi) distance from the provincial town by the provincial Road No 155 parallel to Sangker River. At the mountain’s valley, there are Ku Teuk and two main natural well, namely: Bit Meas and Chhung or Chhung Achey.
Prasat Snung
characterizes as three separated stupas made of brick, located on a hill having 30 metres (98 ft) length and 20 metres (66 ft) width, in Snung pagoda’s area, Snung commune, Banan District in 22 kilometres (14 mi) distance from the provincial town. According to the style at the gate, the temple is similar to other temples in 12th century. Behind the temple, there is another new constructing temple.
Phnom Sampov Resort
is the natural resort located along the National Road No 57 (the former National Road No10) at Sam Puoy commune (the high land having more than 100 metres (328.1 ft) height) in 12 kilometres (7 mi) distance from the provincial town of Battambang. On the top of Sam Puoy mountain, there are temple and three natural wells, namely Pkar Slar, Lo Khuon and Ak Sopheak. Next to Sam Puoy mountain, there are some main mountains, the natural site like Phnom Trung Moan, Phnom Trung Tea and Phnom Neang Rum Say Sork. These mountains related to the Cambodia folk legend of Reach Kol Neang Rum Say Sork.
Boeng Kampinh Puoy Resort
locates between two mountains, named Phnom Kul or Phnom Ta Nget and Phnom Kampinh Puoy, at Ta Nget village, Ta Kriem Commune in 35 kilometres (22 mi) distance from the provincial town. Boeng kam Pinh Puoy has 1900 metres (6,233.6 ft) width, 19 kilometres (12 mi) length and can load 110000000 cubic metres (3,884,613,283.4 cu ft).
Sek Sak Resort
is the natural resort, which has been popular since before the civil war time. Sek Sak stretches along the river bank full of plant, trees and bamboo-green nature in 500 metres (1,640.4 ft) length. As long as visiting Sek Sak, tourists can also visit other attractive sites like Po Pus Pich Chen Da Dong Tong and Sa Ang speak, the pre-history site in five kilometer (3.1 mi) to six kilometer (3.75 mi) distance from each other. Sek Sak located Treng commune, Rotanak Mondul District in 50 kilometres (31 mi) distance from the provincial town of Battambang along the National Road No 57, the former National Road No 10.
Nory (Bamboo Train)
is overseen by the tourist police and runs from just outside of the city to a village that has a brick factory. See Norry
Norry
A norry or nori is an improvised rail vehicle from Cambodia. Lonely Planet describes it as "Cambodia's bamboo train". The trains run at speeds of up to 50 km/h on the 1 m gauge tracks around Battambang and Poipet...
for more information.
Battambang Circus (Phare Ponleu Selpak)
gives performances every Monday and Thursday evening. The shows include a range of circus disciplines including acrobatics, juggling, aerial work, clowning, tightrope walking and aqua-balance. The shows are put on by students from the NGO arts school, Phare Ponleu Selpak. This organisation helps disadvantaged children and young people escape from situations connected with poverty such as begging or trafficking and to get an education, both in normal public school and in the arts.