Battambang
Băt Dâmbâng is a Provinces of Cambodia.
Introduction
At present, the stability of Battambang province is running well as the very much significant way with a loving and caring environment after nearly 3 decades of civil war. However, the living standards of rural people still encounter some difficulties. Since each family income is not sufficient like the neighboring countries.Recently, the government has formed many policies to develop the country by preparing the economic and social planning for the fiscal year.
Furthermore, Battambang province, there’re a big territory and is in good location to develop economy and society. This province is located north-western of Cambodia along national road 5. It is 291 Km far from Phnom Penh to Battambang. The northern borders are with Banteay Meanchey province, The eastern bothers with Siem Riep province and Tonle Sap lake, the southern bothers with Por Sat province and the western is with Thailand.And it includes 13 districts (96 communes, 741 villages) with 889,531population.
Here are mainly two major rainy season and dry seasons in Battambang, same as the country. Rainy season starts from June to November and Dry season starts from December to May. The hottest weather comes in the dry season, which temperature rise up to 38 Celsius and sometimes decreases to 20 Celsius. Cambodia receives the Mousong air and the climate varies in each season.
In the development of economic and social, the priority fields are agriculture, health, education, infrastructure and sanitary of water. Nowadays the province has good security as well as the active participation of all level of people to restore the nation and to reduce the poverty which is the policy of government.
Battambang province covers around 1,162,200 hectares of land. They can grow crops in 415,200 hectares of land, 1,500 hectares are land are rice field, 444,200 hectares are full of forests, 145,800 hectares cowered by water and the rest are 257,100 hectares of land.
Understand
History
The Khmer word bat means 'to disappear', and dambong means 'stick'. So the name Battambang is a corruption of bat dambong, meaning, 'the stick disappears'.
As the story goes, a peasant lad who tended cows had a stick made of the wood from a Kranhoung tree that was so powerful that he could control his cows just by throwing his stick at them. .For this reason he was called Ta Dambong Kranhoung, or ' Uncle Kranhoung Stick'. He led his cows to Sneng around
900-000 A.D. This is the same Sneng located out the road past Phnom Sampeou towards Pailin. The name Sneng means 'posts', and it is speculated that Ta Dambong tied his cows to posts there.
Another version of the story is that the lad had to cook rice for many people and found a black stick to stir the rice. The rice mysteriously turned black, so in order to hide evidence, the lad ate the rice. It made him miraculously strong, and he knew then that he had found a magic stick.
Ta Dambong was becoming bored with tending cows, and dreamed of becoming king one day. Using his powerful stick, he succeeded in overthrowing the king. The king’s son, i.e. the prince, fled to the forest and became a monk. In his meditation he became weak and sickly, nearly to the point of death.
Meanwhile, the new king, Ta Dambong, had a dream that his reign would last only seven months, seven years, and seven hours. In his dream, he saw a holy man on a white horse dethroning him, and so he was always on the lookout for a white horse He decided to round up all the holy men in the region and to kill them.
Back in the forest, the prince heard that all holy men were to appear at the court of the king. But on his way to the capital, a hermit met him and asked him to take care of his white horse while he, the hermit, went to see the king. In holding the horse, the prince found that the horse could cure his sickness. In fact, when he tried to ride the horse to horse started to fly! So the prince, still dressed as a holy man, flew into town on the beautiful white horse, and Ta Dambong knew his hour had come. King Dambong threw his powerful stick at the newcomer, but the gods caused the stick to miss him. Realizing that he would be defeated, he fled and was never seen again. The famous stick disappeared .
One version of the story is that the stick fell at a place near the present Battambang railway station, while a second version says it was on the riverbank near the iron bridge. But the most probable place, according to experts, is at the dam site of O Dambong, where the original Sangker River forked and a dam was built to force the water into one channel. The Khmer word O means 'stream', so O Dambong is the stream where the Slick fell.
It is interesting that people in Battambang who tell the story today tell it as fact, not myth. They say people are still looking for the stick, and may someday find it.
The statue of Ta Darnbong Kranhoung at the Highway 5 roundabout was only recently painted black. Not the famous stick in his hand. You can buy souvenir replicas of Ta Damboung Kranhoung at most of the carving shops along Street number 1 or on the northern market corner of Street 2.
Battambang is also a good place to buy marble carvings. The marble comes from Kravanh District south of Pursat, the best place to buy the originals. But with more tourists in Battambang than Pursat, the carvings are sold at most art shops in Battambang There is also a good, cheap shop devoted entirely to marble carvings on the street that angles off Highway 5 across from the Leng Heng Hotel.
Other destinations
Phnom Sampeou Mountain Recreation Center
Phnom Sampeou, an unparallel beauty of nature, has become a very attractive recreation center, which most tourists are consistently visiting on the national public holidays, traditional days such as Khmer Happy New Year days, Pchoumbin days and the youth keep the mountain full of chirping even in the regular days as well.
Phnom Sampeou is located on the left along national road 10. 13 kilometers from the Battambang town . The name ‘Phnom Sampeou’ bears a very traditional significant dignity to the entire Cambodian that the out-look of the mountain gives the impression of a ‘boat-ready-to-sail’ or ‘sailing-boat’ and a sort of sayings are famous to the people of the locality. It is time-honored to all that its shape is similar to a sailing ship so it was named “Sampeou”.
It has 700 late-rite steps, which bear the authenticity of vastly developed aforementioned -Cambodia and its arts and culture. It is more than 100 meters height with loving view from far distance like the people are going to Poipet, Siem Reap or even going abroad, the “Sampeou” sees off them waving her green-hair. And again, when the people enter into Battambang or going to Phnom Penh through Battambang, the “Sampeou” tirelessly wait for them to well come to her mild -shades and sceneries.
The “Sampeou” bears a sort of eye-and-heart-attractive mountain-holes like the other famous mountains of the world called ‘caves’. There are some big caves and there are several sub-caves among the big ones, which made the mountain more mysterious to the people and the visitors as well. Among the caves, the Phka Sla cave, Lakhoun cave, Aksou Cave are very famous to the people and especially the local young-tourist guides know how to share the insights of the caves to the foreigners. The dark caves it self may be can even reckon up that how many camera-shots of them are clicked and covered to the humanity all around the world.
The “Wat Kirirom” temple at the top of the mountain, the holly adorn of “Sampeou”, beautifies like the crown the mountain, and attracts the tourists and medals a devout frame of mind to them.
There is a broaden mountains nearby the “Sampeou”, which is related to Khmer folktale “Reach Kol and Neang Rumsay sok” such as Kdong mountain, Kropoeu mountain, Trong man Trong tear mountain and Neang rumsay sok mountain which are all natural recreation center.
The name of the village and commune of that locality is also ‘Sampeou’, which wits the respects from all people of this locality of present and the past. “Sampeou” is located in the district of Bannan, one more historical mountain which bears the witness of Khmer civilization, Battambang.
Kamping pouy Resort
Kamping pouy dam, the dam of sadness and blood-spattered, was built during the Democratic Kampuchea regime in 1970s, where thousands of people worked or starved to death at that site.
Kamping pouy dam is located between Kol mountain and Ta Ngen mountain in Ta Ngen commune, Banan district, 35 kilometers far from Battambang town and 19 kilometers from national road 57 ex-national road 10 between Kropoeu and Trongmon Trongtear mountain.
Though the dam was built on the immeasurable sadness of thousands of starved –lives, it fetches mammoth benefits to the locality as well. This reservoir is 7500 meters long and 1900 meters width.
In the rainy season, there can be stored 110,000,000 cubic-meter of water to use on agricultural fields. It is the main source of water after the rainy season.
Kamping pouy dam does not only provide a lot of benefits to agricultural-
al sectors, but it is also a most attention-grabbing resort where visitors like to spend their time for fresh air, swimming and viewing the spread of mountains. The residents of Kamping Pouy are mostly farmers and fishers.
Sek Sak Resort
Sek Sak, a splendor of scenery, is a natural resort with fresh water running across the scattered of stones, located in Plov Meas village, Rattanak –Mondul district, along the proportion road 10 which has been numbered as Highway 57, 56 kilometers from Battambang town. There are a lot of giant shady trees on the river bank. The main activities of the people are cultivating rice and other crops. Among the crops peanuts, corns, pine apples,
Chamlong kouy Resort
Chamlong kouy, a majesty of scenery, is a natural resort as well located in Chamlong Kouy village, Mean Chey commune, Samlot district 82 Kilometers from Battanbang town. Chamlong Kouy river flows across the giant scattered stones in Sanker river with the creation of murmuring sound. Around the river bank, there are a lot of shady trees, which is very much attractive tree-shade to the natural-beauty-seekers both to the foreigners and the local tourists. Every day a lot of visitors come to visit this resort and have a fresh-breath, and go back to their destination with a calm heart. There are several kinds of famous trees, which is rare to other locality even to Asian countries, like Kra gnoung, Pchek, Beng, Nean Nun ( Khmer’s trees name). The occupation of the people, the always smiling faces, of this locality is agriculture
Banteay Sat Resort
Banteay Sat is a bird sanctuary resort, located in Koh Chyvang village & commune, Eik Phnom disrict. It it 105 kilometers from Battamang town. Banteay sat ,full of Raneam forest, shares bother with Tonle-sap lake. In the rainy season, tourists can be able to visit there by traveling by boats along Sanker river. It is a very attractive natural scenery based developing tourist place as well
Get In
Get around
1. Standard motodoup fare is 500 riel . within town. For longer trips from one end of town to the other. slip in a couple extra hundred-riel notes, or just give them 1000 riel . Don’t bargain at first; just get on and hand them the money at the end. The drivers are pretty friendly and won’t get aggressive as long as you treat them fairly.
2. Dining. The other guidebooks cover this topic in depth. As a result of extensive coverage, the White Rose Restaurant has become the evening hangout for most low budget tourists While the White Rose has its act together, of late their portions have been shrinking. If you really want a big feed of Western food the Cold Night across the river is the place.
In town, my recommendation for the best value for money is the (Chinese) Paris Restaurant on Street number3. It definitely has the best and cheapest noodle soup for breakfast in the morning. For just a drink
or cheese-and tomato sandwich, the family next to the White Rose is very nice. But for a full meal, the White Rose is better. Near the foot stalls, further north on Street 3 next to a good bakery, is a new, relatively clean place called the Ly Ly. They make a good, cheap stir fry for a hearty lunch. The cheapest street food is to be found along the street perpendicular to the river one block north of the market, along Wat Pippithi. The atmosphere is not so good.
A new western bar/restaurant is about to open in the south of town, where the road turns off to Pailin. Aptly titled The Balcony, it affords a marvelous view from high over the Sangker River.
Evening drinks along the riverside are pleasant, but if you are bothered by the beggars along the riverside, try the boat dock for a beer and loklock overlooking the river. But sometimes the river stinks from the raw sewage pouring in from the hospital.
3.Train. Many tourists ask about riding the train to Phnom Penh. Information changes often. While formerly free for foreigners, the fare to Phnom Penh ,is new12,000 riel. The train goes every other day, so ask ahead to find out which day it is going. The trip is long - up to 18 hours, and the last few hours in total darkness can be uncomfortable. And do you want to arrive in Phnom Penh and have to look for lodging at midnight?
Try this: take the train to Phnom Penh but get off in late afternoon at Sdoc Ach Romea, a small, forgotten town that used to be a major train stop. From the train, look for a sign that says Akphiwat. Then take a pleasant 30-40 minute motodoup ride on a very good road into Kompong Chhnang. From there, you can catch a taxi or even the air-conditioned bus into the Central Market at Phnom Penh. Or if you arrive in Sdoc Ach Romea early enough, go right into Kompopg Chhnang and either overnight there or catch something into Phnom Penh that same day. You might even beat the train.
If you want to ride a Cambodian train, but don't want to spend 12-18 hours on the train. take the train in the other direction, to Sisophon. It takes only about 5 hours and goes every morning at 7:00 (well...usually) ..Or tale the train from Sisophon to Battambang. leaving Sisophon at 1:00 every(?) afternoon.
4. Boal. Most travelers passing through Battambang take the boat either to or from Siem Reap. It costs US$15 for foreigners, about 6 for Cambodians. When there is plenty of water in the river, i.e. between June and December. the trip takes about three hours and is very enjoyable. when the water level goes down. they have to switch to a much smaller boat boat that is open is to the sun and can be quite uncomfortable. The propeller keeps getting clogged with seaweed, causing the driver to stop the boat to clean off the propeller. The dry-season trip can take up to seven hours.
You can buy your boat tickets in advance at the boat dock, located some 200 meters north of the new bridge- But you can probably just show up at 6:30 any morning and buy a ticket for the 7:00 boat.
5. Airplane. The easiest way to go to Phnom Penh IS by airplane. Although the airline situation in Cambodia is fluid as of mid-200! there are two airlines, President and Royal Phnom Penh. that fly to Battambang. They do not go to Siem Reap from Battambang, although they often come to Battarnbang via Siem Reap. The cost is $45 one way to Phnom Penh ($85 round trip), with a $4 airport tax in Battambang, but $10 airport tax if you fly from Phnom Penh to Banarnbang. Both airlines fly the same antiquated Russian Antonov-24 planes with bald tires.. and both leave at the same time - 8:30 a.m. -- for the 40 minute flight to Phnom Penh. Take your pick!
Royal Phnom Penh has ticket offices all over town. including some of the hotels President operates mainly from Street 3 south of the Iron Bridge. Oddly enough, if you by your ticket from your hotel, you may get a discount of a dollar. Motorcycle fare out to the airport is pretty much up to you. Anywhere from 2000 riel up to a dollar is appropriate.
6. Taxi. If you want to leave Battambang by car. the taxi stand is on Highway 5 at the north end of town (see map). You can go by pickup truck or by white Toyota Camry. The Toyotas as are faster, but you may have to wait longer for one to fill up. In either case, it is wise to buy two seats up front. The ride is so uncomfortable that you do not want to be smashed in with all those people. The trip to Phnom Penh takes anywhere from seven to ten hours, depending on the season. the condition of the road, and the condition of your vehicle. The semi-official fare to Phnom Penh is 25,000 riel inside the cabin, and only 10,000 for sitting out in the back of the pickup. If sitting in back sounds romantic, let me assure you that after 7 hours of dust and heat, you don't feel very romantic about it. If you go by white Toyota Camry, the price is 300-400 baht.
The trip is so strenuous that you may wish to break your journey to Phnom Penh, perhaps by overnighting in Pursat. The fare to Pursat is 10,000 riels inside, 5,000 riel outside the pickup. Pursat is a nice town with several good hotels and guest houses.