Wat Phnom

Phnom Penh, Cambodia
1373-present

Wat Phnom, or "Hill Temple," is built upon an artificial hill about 100' high. It is here that the city of Phnom Penh ("Penh's Hill") was founded in 1373. Shrines and other buildings have been put up and restored several times since then, the last major restoration taking place in 1926. The main (east) entrance, shown here, is guarded by modern statues that depict dvarapalas, chinthes, and nagas.