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— C a m b o d i a —
Angkor Wat is the world's largest temple complex,
consisting of sandstone temples, chapels,
causeways, terraces and reser voirs.
Vast and awe-inspiring, it is a magnif icent Hindu temple
set in dense jungle, located 152 kilometres from the Thai
border, at Siem Reap. The walls are covered in thousands of
carvings of gods and events from classical Hindu mythology.
It was abandoned in the 15th century when the people
turned to Buddhism and rediscovered in 1861.
Elephant, Dangkrek and Cardamom mountains are in
the southwest of Cambodia along the northern border
with Thailand and the Eastern Highlands and in the
northeastern corner are the three main mountainous
regions. The majority of the population speaks Khmer, a
non-tonal language closely related to Thai. French is the
second language and English is taught in schools. Cambodia
nationalities comprise of Chinese, Vietnamese and Cham
Muslims. A form of Buddhism called Theravada is practiced
by the majority of Cambodians, Animism and Caodaism are
also practised.
Capital and major centres
Phnom Penh, the capital, has a population of around
1.5 million people and, despite its tumultuous past, its
crumbling colonial architecture makes an attractive
backdrop to street-side cafés and the redeveloped waterfront
precinct.
C A M B O D I A
