Battambang

Things to see and do

Battambang Museum

Can't get enough of Cambodia's ancient relics? Battambang museum offers an excellent display of sculptures and sandstone carvings, mostly items that have been removed from Cambodia's various temples. The pieces seem to be arranged in no particular order with little regard to age or temple origin. ... read more
Wats within town

Several wats lie on the far bank of the river, but to the casual visitor they are probably just of passing interest. The most interesting is Wat Kandal, just to the north of the iron bridge. It has an unusual arched entranceway and out the back in the far corner is a model of Angkor Wat. If you ... read more
River trip

Just to the north of the new bridge a cluster of boats is moored. This is where the ferries to Siem Reap depart, but you can also hire one of the smaller wooden boats just to explore the river. Rates are around $4-5 per hour depending on your bargaining ability. The river in both directions weaves ... read more
Outside town

The countryside surrounding Battambang is simply stunning, especially when the rice fields are sprouting. It's easy to spend two to three days exploring, while someone determined to see everything the area has to offer could spend a week here. Despite its proximity to Thailand and the good road to ... read more
Ek Phnom

Ek Phnom dates back to the 11th century and is one of the most-visited attractions around Battambang. If you've already seen Angkor you'll probably find it a bit disappointing, but if you haven't been there yet, it's a fine taster. On weekdays, you're likely to have the entire place to yourself, ... read more
Rice paper making

En route to Ek Phnom you'll pass a group of houses dedicated to making the rice paper used in wrapping spring rolls, with the workers quite happy for you to stop and take a look. What's interesting is the steam-driven mechanics of the process. The steam is created by the heat from rice chaff and ... read more
Phnom Banan

Just over 20km to the south of Battambang, Phnom Banan is the best kept of the remaining Khmer ruins in the area, though again, when compared to Angkor Wat it isn't so impressive. Dating back to the 11th century, Phnom Banan has been heavily looted but remains mostly upright. What is impressive ... read more
Phnom Sampeau

This hilltop temple on the road to Pailin is one of the main locations of Battambang's killing fields, with a large cave where victims were thrown either after being bludgeoned or having their throats cut, or simply to their death. Children, some of whom speak very good English, hang around the ... read more
Nori Ride

The nories will soon be a thing of the past, so catch a ride while you can! According to local authorities, they will be closed permanently by the end of the 2010. Nories, also know as bamboo trains, are one of Battambang's must sees, if only for their novelty value. Formed by two sets of railway ... read more