Phnom Kulen National Park

Phnom Kulen National Park is a national park in Cambodia, located in the Phnom Kulen mountain massif in Siem Reap Province. It was established in 1993 and covers 373.76 km2 (144.31 sq mi). Its official Khmer name is Preah Cheyvaraman-Norodom Phnom Kulen National Park (Khmer: ឧទ្យានជាតិព្រះជ័យវរ្ម័ន-នរោត្តម ភ្នំគូលែន.

Phnom Kulen National Park
Preah Cheyvaraman-Norodom Phnom Kulen National Park
IUCN category II (national park)[1]
Waterfall in Phnom Kulen National Park
Phnom Kulen National Park
LocationCambodia
Nearest citySiem Reap
Coordinates13°36′22″N 104°05′45″E
Area373.76 km2 (144.31 sq mi)
Established1993[1]

During the Angkorian era the relief was known as Mahendraparvata (the mountain of Great Indra) and was the place where Jayavarman II had himself declared chakravartin (King of Kings), an act which is considered the foundation of Khmer Empire.[2]

Archaeological sites
Indra. Prasat Koki (Phnom Kulen). 9th century

Phnom Kulen National Park is located in Svay Leu District about 48 kilometres (30 mi) from the provincial town of Siem Reap and about 25 kilometres (16 mi) from Prasat Banteay Srey via Charles De Gaulle Road. There are several nature features, historical places, and other sights making Kulen National Park an interesting place to visit.[3][4]

Chup Preah (Khmer: ជប់ព្រះ) is a valley featuring several statues made during the 16th century.

Linga 1,000.

The Kbal Spean archaeological site, also known as "Valley of a thousand Lingas" (Khmer: លិង្គ១០០០), is located on the mountain, along the Kbal Spean River, which is tributary of Siem Reap River. The site has many figures of Yoni and Linga as well as other figures carved into the rocks of the riverbed and banks which may become fully exposed in the dry season when the river dries up. The river is shallow and small waterfalls form at the site in the wet season. The site is accessible by trekking uphill through a 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) jungle track from the parking site.

Terrace of Sdach Kamlung (Khmer: ព្រះលានស្តេចគំលង់) is a plain terrace with a small ruined temple made of bricks in the middle. The terrace was once covered with lava.

Statue of the reclining Buddha in Wat Preah Ang Thom.

Preah Ang Thom (Khmer: ព្រះអង្គធំ) is an 8 metres (26 ft) tall statue of the reclining Buddha reaching nirvana. The statue is carved into a huge sandstone boulder. Preah Ang Thom is the sacred and worshipping god for Phnom Kulen. There are also two big trees of Cham Pa (Khmer: ដើមចំប៉ា) at nearby. Besides Preah Ang Thom, there are Chhok Ruot (Khmer: ឆ័តរួត), footprint of Preah Bat Choan Tuk (Khmer: បាតជើងព្រះបាទជាន់ទុក្ខ), Peung Chhok (Khmer: ពើងឆ័ត), Peung Ey So (Khmer: ពើងឥសូ) and Peung Ey Sey (Khmer: ពើងឥសី).

Waterfalls

There are two main waterfalls in Phnom Kulen (Khmer: ទឹកធ្លាក់ភ្នំគូលែន):

  • First waterfall: 4–5 metres (13–16 ft) tall and around 25 metres (82 ft) wide during the rainy seasons.
  • Second waterfall: 15–20 metres (49–66 ft) tall and around 15 metres (49 ft) wide during the rainy seasons.

The size of the waterfalls varies according to the seasons and the rain. Visiting the waterfalls is a popular activity on Phnom Kulen tours.

Archeological activities

After initial reconnaissances by French scholars, the historical relevance of Phnom Kulen was pointed out by Philippe Stern, who visited it in 1936 and described Rong Chen[5] as the first temple-mountain.[6][7] In 1973 and 1979 Jean Boulbet and Bruno Dagens published the fundamental archeological inventory and mapping of Phonm Kulen.[8][9] In 2008 Archaeology & Development Foundation begun Phnom Kulen Program,[10] an archaeological project focused even on sustainable development of local communities.

In June 2013, an archaeological team announced the discovery and mapping of the ancient city of Mahendraparvata on the slopes of Phnom Kulen. The multi-year expedition was notable for its use of Lidar technology to reveal the layout of the city from beneath jungle and earth. 30 previously unidentified temples have been discovered.[11]

References
  1. Protected Planet (2018). "Phnom Kulen National Park". United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Retrieved 26 Dec 2018.
  2. Higham, 2001: pp. 54–59
  3. "7 Reasons Phnom Kulen is a Must See in Siem Reap". Kulen Revealed. 2018-07-07. Retrieved 2018-12-21.
  4. "Sightseeing Koulen Mountain". Cambodian government. 2003-11-19. Archived from the original on 2008-09-09. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  5. Rong Chen on CISARK site
  6. Stern, Philippe (1938). "Travaux exécutés au Phnom Kulên (15 avril-20 mai 1936)". Bulletin de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient (in French). 38: 151–174. doi:10.3406/befeo.1938.4718. ISSN 0336-1519.
  7. Stern, Philippe (1938). "Le style du Kulên (décor architectural et statuaire)". Bulletin de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient (in French). 38: 111–150. doi:10.3406/befeo.1938.4717. ISSN 0336-1519.
  8. Boulbet, Jean; Dagens, Bruno (1973). "Les sites archéologiques de la région du Bhnaṃ Gūlen (Phnom Kulen)". Arts Asiatiques (in French). 27: 3–130. doi:10.3406/arasi.1973.1069.
  9. Boulbet, Jean (1979). Le Phnom Kulen et sa Région. Paris: École française d'Extrême-Orient.
  10. website of Phnom Kulen Program
  11. Murdoch, Lindsay (15 June 2013). "Lost horizons: mediaeval city uncovered". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 June 2013.

Bibliography
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