Wat Botum, Buddhist temple in central Phnom Penh, Cambodia
Wat Botum is a Buddhist temple in central Phnom Penh featuring a large assembly hall where a golden Buddha statue sits. Around this main building stand several stupas and decorative gardens that shape the temple grounds.
King Ponhea Yat ordered the construction of this temple in 1442, making it one of the oldest religious structures in Phnom Penh. This long history stretches back to the very beginnings of the modern city.
The temple walls display detailed murals showing Buddhist teachings and scenes from Buddha's life. These painted scenes shape how visitors understand the spiritual values that guide daily practices here.
The temple sits on Oknha Suor Srun Street and welcomes visitors throughout the day, though modest clothing is expected. Plan to spend time in the heat and bring shoes you can easily remove when entering buildings.
The temple serves as a final resting place for many politicians and respected figures, who lie buried beneath different memorial stupas. These stupas reveal how this sanctuary has long been a space for honoring the dead.
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