Cambodia is a beautiful landmass situated between Thailand, Laos and Vietnam. The capital of Cambodia is Phnom Phen. Unlike India, Cambodia does not have a very large population: a ‘mere’ 14.5 million.  

A lot of Cambodia’s culture is tied up with other countries, including India. That explains why many Cambodian names are very similar to Indian ones.  

Cambodia is a tropical country that grows plenty of rice, coconut and rubber. There are also hundreds of palm trees. The houses here are built on stacks so that they can withstand flooding; in the countryside they are made out of wood. 

Mother of all temples: Angkor Wat  

Cambodia has a long history of temples, tradition and culture. Some of Cambodia’s religions have come from India. Temples in Cambodia feature ornate carvings of gods and goddesses and the wars the gods fought. Most Cambodian temples are made from latterite, or sandstone.  

The mother of all Cambodian temples is Angkor Wat. The temples at Angkor Wat are made out of sandstone and were built by King Suryavarman II in the early 12th century. Angkor Wat has become a symbol of Cambodia; it appears on its national flag and is the country’s prime attraction for visitors. 

Angkor Wat took 37 years to be built. Carvings on the walls of the temples depict the Ramayana and Mahabharata. There are carvings of the Indian gods Shiva and Vishnu. Some domes at Angkor Wat are built in such a way that if a particular stone is pulled out the whole dome will collapse! Angkor Wat also has carvings of apsaras and the Hindu god Hanuman.  

The temples at Angkor Wat are centuries old and many of them are in ruins. They have metal bars in them to stop them from collapsing.                       

The green fields of Cambodia 

The rice fields on the way to Phnom Phen stretched out in front of us like a green carpet. I saw many cows and buffaloes although Cambodians rarely drink milk. And scores of coconut and palm trees that reach out like giant hands trying to grab you. I saw people along the river, eating frogs and selling birds. I even saw men fishing. There are many poor people in Cambodia who sell a number of things to earn a living. During my visit, I stayed with a Nepali family.

Cambodia is a beautiful and interesting country. The carved temples… stories about how volcanic rock was transported from the highlands to the temples… Cambodia’s rich trading history with other countries… and the clever way the roofs slant to stop water from collecting on them…  

(Vineet John is a student at the Bangkok Patana International School) 

InfoChange News & Features, December 2008