If you plan on visiting Cambodia anytime soon for a vacation, there are several different tourist attractions to see. One of the most notable tourist locations in Cambodia is the Phnom Penh Royal Palace. This palace has a very rich history dating back to 1865 which is when King Norodom moved it to its present-day location.
King Norodom commissioned the assistance of an architect named Neak Okhna Tepnimith Mak who designed the palatial grounds. These grounds were made out of fine materials like gold, marble, & other precious stones. This construction was carried out by the French Protectorate in the year 1866 which is the same year that the city was inaugurated as the capital.
Since then, there have been several additions to the palace which have helped improve its appearance. The royal court feature became a mainstay in 1871 and the world-renown palace walls were integrated in 1873.
History of the Royal Palace
The iconic Napoleon Pavilion located inside of the palace was gifted to the royal family by France in 1876. King Sisowath made various changes to the palace during his reign from 1904-1927. Some of his most notable add-ons to the palace were Phochani Hall & the expansion of Chanchhaya Pavilion.
He also renovated the Throne Hall during his reign as king which still stands today. Later in the 1930s, King Monivong went on to add the Royal Chapel, he also demolished the previous Royal Residence with what is known as Khemarin Palace. This is the location of the monarchy's official home today,
In 1950, King Sihanouk added the Villa Kantha Bopha which is used to host guests. All of these wonderful architectural innovations have made the Royal Palace what it is today. There is a lot to explore when visiting the Royal Palace, it's sprawling landscape boasts tons of attractions for you to see.
Sigh-seeing the Royal Palace on your travel to Cambodia
As we mentioned before, the Royal Palace of Phnom Penh has a lot to offer its visitors. When you finally get a chance to visit the palace in person, you will be able to take in all of its stunning majesties. There are multiple entrances to the Royal Palace making it what to do in Cambodia for many people.
The Eastern Victory Gate is reserved only for VIPs & royalty, this entrance also grants you direct access to the Throne Hall. The northern gate entrance to the palace is known as the funeral gate and is only used for the death of a monarch. The western gate is known as the executing gate & was previously used to bring our prisoners who have been punished for execution.
The southern gate is known as the "commoners’ entrance" & is the main entrance used by the public to reach the Silver Pagoda. Only certain buildings are open for public use, those buildings include the golden-spired Throne Hall. 5 doors are leading into the hall with the primary one being reserved only for royalty.
Inside of the hall, you will find multiple grand golden thrones however they are only used for coronations. This is one of the main attractions that you'll want to visit while traveling inside Cambodia with a visa.
The Silver Pagoda
The Silver Pagoda is one of the main structures of the Royal Palace & is commonly referred to as Wat Preah Keo. The Silver Pagoda was originally built in 1892 however it was rebuilt in 1962 using jewels & silver. The floor is covered in five tonnes of silver which are spread across 5,000 separate tiles. The staircase leading to the pagoda is made from Italian marble with a temple that houses a life-sized golden Buddha.
The golden Buddha that sits atop the staircase is adorned with about 2,086 diamonds for a spectacular finish. The largest diamond is estimated to be around 25 carats which are a nod to the rich culture of Cambodia as a whole.
If you're visiting the Kingdom of Cambodia anytime soon and are wondering what can be done with a Cambodia visa, visiting the Royal Palace is a great place to start. Use all of the information we've given you in this article to enjoy your next trip!