Oudong: the Former Capital Nearby Phnom Penh

January 26, 2015

Oudong looks from far away

The sunny day combine with clear blue sky bring me an opportunity to get away from town.I and my family decide to visit the former city of Cambodia, Oudong.

Drive along national route 5, it takes about thirty minutes to arrive gate of oudong mountain. Along road with green trees and plants, it is really good to visit here in raining season when all things are green. This atmosphere overcomes my stress along working day.

When you arrive Oudong, there are lot of little cottages in line for rental to people who come to visiting here, and they sell lots of foods like roast chicken, fish, palm fruit, snacks, and soft drinks. My friends tell me you need to bargain to get good price to these things. I keep walking and go up along stair to the top of mountain.

On Oudong Mt

Oudong is the viral resting place of several Cambodian kings and it is the capital from 1618 to 1816. The ruin stupa and temple is on the twin humps of oudong’s small mountain where can reach by climb up a series of cement stair. It is a bit tire for first time their but as a reward, I get a big view of landscapes from top of mountain is really excellence. Today, Oudong where has a big stupa has recently built to store and conserve the relic of Presh Srerei Raktheat.( Ash of the Buddha). We stop there for a while, I make a pray at this big stupa for happiness to my family friends, relative and to our kingdom.

The old stupa at Oudong

Crowding people walk around here, I see some grandma sell handicraft which completely awesome. Some children sell lotus and candle, and elder beggars 500 riels to ask you and I decide to give to them and some children to buy me some smile and good karma.

Move along the road on the mountain, there is king stupa along there till reach another stair that bring us down. A full day visiting this old town is worth time to visit here with a daylong while you are in Phnom Penh.

How to go to Oudong?

There are 3 ways to get there from Phnom Penh:

Easy way: Hire a car with driver to take you there for about $40 to $45 return

Not so easy, not so hard way: Hire a tuktuk to take you there and back for about $25. Do note that it will take a journey time of 2 hours on a very dusty path with a tuktuk!

Hard way: Aim to find a shared taxi in Sorya Bus Terminal near the Central Market. No fixed schedules. The shared taxi will leave only when full. Another possibility also from the same bus terminal is to take northbound buses and ask them to drop you off at Oudong. Problem with this is that you’ll be taken to Oudong town and not to Phnom Oudong, which requires another ride. And once there, there are no guarantees of finding a shared taxi back.