Kulen National Park

Kulen National Park, which is officially known as “Preah Cheyvaraman Norodom Phnom Kulen National Park,” is one of other national parks in Cambodia which was established in 1993. This national park is located on the top of mountain, Siem Reap province. It is under the reservation of Ministry of Environment and Siem Reap Provincial Administration. During Angkorian era, the relief was known as the mountain of Great Indra and a place which was considered as the foundation of Khmer Empire.

For Cambodian, this national park was called Phnom Kulen. If you’re heading from Phnom Penh, you need to travel on the national road 6, about 312km. Basically, if you travel by bus, you may took around 4:30 hours from Phnom Penh to provincial town of Siem Reap.

Kulen National Park is located in Svay Leu District and about 48km from the town of Siem Reap and took 1.5 to 2 hours to reach by car or van or longer than that if by Tuk Tuk .But if you are at Prasat Banteay Srey, you may took only 25km to reach this natural national park via travel on Charles De Gualle Road. You will release all stress when you arrived Phnom Kulen since you can see the big trees and local vendors along the way with beautiful green forest. 

When you arrived Phnom Kulen, you can visit Chup Preah. It’s the plain spot having the cool water flow and located at the mountain’s valley. Next to it, there is a big Cham Pa tree having 15 meters high. If people talk about Chup Preah, they will remind the huge Buddhist statue that made during 16^th century.

Kbal Spean, is the archaeological site, known as the valley of a thousand Lingas. This site has figures of Yoni and Linga. Other figures carved into the rocks of the riverbed which may become fully exposed in the dry season. By going to this place, you need to trek uphill through 1.5 kilometers jungle from the parking site.

 Preah Ang Thom is an 8 meter Buddha statue. This statue is carved into a huge sandstone boulder. Preah Ang Thom is the worshipping god of Phnom Kulen. There are two big Cham Pa trees nearby. The Chhok Ruot, footprint of Preah Bat Choan Tuk, Peung Ey So and Peung Ey Sey are the most respected for Cambodian people.

There are two main waterfalls, first have 4-5 meters tall and around 25 meters wide during rainy season, so children also possible to play. Second, it has 15-20 meters tall and 15 meters wide. This place also great for picnic with family and friends because it’s naturally cool and environmental.