Cambodia boasts a rich culture with its many ancient temples and impressive natural scenery. These include, empty beaches, mighty rivers and remote forests. Nevertheless, the temples of Angkor literally rise out of the jungle and are a magnet for visitors to Cambodia. cambodia_flag Angkor Wat is the largest and most famous of the temples, visitors can quite easily spend a week exploring the hundreds of other exquisite structures. Phnom Penh is a bustling city, often overshadowed by glamorous Angkor. It is a city of contrasts with fine colonial architecture side by side with ramshackle street Elsewhere, few visitors take the time to discover the hill tribes around Banlung (Ratanakiri province), the unspoiled countryside around sleepy Sen Monorom (Mondolkiri province) and the charming riverside town of Battambang with its faded colonial architecture. Those looking for relaxation make their way to Sihanoukville with its lovely sandy beaches and laid-back lifestyle. With the road network little by little improving, so much more of this delightful country is opening up to visitors who take the time to discover Cambodia beyond the temples

The State of Funan was situated in southern Cambodia and southern Vietnam and lasted for a period of 600 years. This dynasty gave way to the powerful Angkor Empire that was eventually responsible for establishing the Khmer Kingdom, as we know it today. TIMELINE First Century AD Establishment of a State called Funan 600AD The State of Funan gave way to the powerful Angkor Empire 1431 Angkor was invaded and eventually, completely ravaged 1970 General Lon Nol, backed by the Americans, overthrew the Head of State 1979 The People’s Republic of Kampuchea, supported by Vietnamese, liberated the capital 1980s Cambodia, with the assistance of the Vietnamese re-built its economy 1989 The Vietnamese withdrew from Cambodia and the country was re-named “State of Cambodia.” The following generation of powerful kings that belonged to the Angkorian dynasty reigned for a period of 650 years. Their empire covered much of Southeast Asia. Their territory stretched from Burma, which lies east, to the South China Sea and further north, right up to southern China. Khmer kings, during this golden period of rule built the most ornate and extensive temples or prasats known to mankind. These spectacular constructions were built throughout the kingdom. Angkor Wat is, of course, the most famous. Besides building the most majestic prasats on earth, Khmer kings were also responsible for huge agricultural feats of engineering which included sophisticated irrigation systems, great water reservoirs, and countless canal systems that guaranteed food transport. Some of these systems are still in use today. Angkor became the capital of a great kingdom and the centre for government, education, religion, and commerce. However, in 1431 a sudden shift of power took place. Angkor was invaded and eventually, completely ravaged. Mankind’s most predominant creation was plunged into total destruction. The entire population and wealth of a once proud civilization was abandoned and covered by tropical forest. Following the abandonment of Angkor, Cambodia’s capital population migrated south to Long Vek, then further to Ou Dong, and eventually to Phnom Penh. The destruction of the mighty Angkorian capital also caused a decline, adaptation, and eventual replacement of Hinduism. Theravada Buddhism became the national religion. As war started to escalate in Vietnam, Cambodia’s borders increasingly became the targets of American and Vietnamese aggression. March 18, 1970, General Lon Nol, backed by the Americans, overthrew the Head of State. Consequently, Cambodia became deeply involved in the war, fighting mainly against the Khmer Rouge. Lon Nol’s control over Cambodia’s government lasted for a period of barely five years, until he was overthrown by the Khmer Rouge, headed by Pol Pot, on April 17, 1975. History repeated itself as soon as Pol Pot invaded. The entire population evacuated the city leaving a once vibrant capital in ruin and decay. The Khmer Rouge then proceeded to implement a “reign of terror” on Cambodia’s entire population. People were brutally forced to work as slaves in the rice fields. These people had to endure long periods of hard, painful labour while effectively being starved at the same time. Pol Pot’s Kampuchean forced labour camps tortured, killed or starved to death an estimated two million people, including women and children. In 1979, The People’s Republic of Kampuchea, supported by Vietnamese, liberated the capital. This presented the opportunity for the country to become re-established once again. Throughout the 1980s, Cambodia, with the assistance of the Vietnamese re-built its economy. In 1989, the Vietnamese withdrew from Cambodia and the country was re-named “State of Cambodia.” Today, the Kingdom of Cambodia is once again a peaceful place to visit, the authoritarian, extreme-left Cambodian People’s Party remains in government.

Cambodia shares borders in the north with Laos and Thailand, in the east with Vietnam and the southwest with the Gulf of Thailand. The landscape comprises of tropical rainforests and fertile land intersected with many rivers. In the northeast and southeast are Cambodia’s highlands. The capital is located at the confluence of the Mekong, Bassac and Tonle Sap rivers. The latter flows from a large inland lake, also called Tonle Sap, situated in the centre of the country. There are numerous offshore islands along the southwest coast.

The country has a tropical climate: warm and humid. In the monsoon season from May to November, abundant rain allows for the cultivation of a wide variety of crops. The most pleasant season is the dry season, from November/December to April. In the north, winters can be colder, while throughout most of the country temperatures remain fairly constant. There is often seasonal flooding in Phnom Penh and the rest of Cambodia in late July and early August so travel may be disrupted. Overall, travellers need not fear of natural disasters such as erupting volcanoes or earthquakes and the country is not directly affected by tropical storms.

Ninety-five percent of the population is Buddhist (Theravada), the remainder being Muslim and Christian. Buddhism was reinstated as the national religion in 1989 after a ban on religious activity in 1975.

Approximately 90 % of the inhabitants of Cambodia are members of the Khmer people. There are several smaller ethnic groups such as Chinese, Vietnamese, Cham and mountain people, such as the Khmer Loeu and crossings between different groups. The Khmer people have lived in the Greater Region since around the 2nd century BC and probably originate from a combination of Mongolian and Melanesian peoples. The most important cultural influence comes from India and was noticeable from the 2nd century AD. The hill tribes mainly live in forested mountain regions of the Northeast. They were former semi-nomadic and practiced an agriculture based on slash and burn. Their number increased in recent years, so that they had to change to an intensified agriculture and had to adopt the habits of the lowland Khmer. There are about 500,000 Cham people, originating from the Cham established in the 16th century in what is now Central Vietnam. T hey now constitute the largest minority in Cambodia. The Pol Pot regime pursued the Cham intensively and reduced their number by half. Originally the Cham were Hindu oriented, later they became Muslims. Their spiritual centre is located in Chur-Changvra near Phnom Penh. The Cham are traditionally cattle traders, butchers and silk weavers. In the 18th and 19th century larger groups of Chinese migrated into the Khmer Kingdom. In modern times they faced political persecution and expulsion. Many escaped, leaving around 100,000 people remaining today. Approximately 200,000 Vietnamese are currently living in Cambodia. The southern part of the country and the region of Phnom Penh have a substantial proportion of Vietnamese settlers..