Tirtha Atlas

The sacred geography of the Indic world — every site mapped, dated, storied, and cited.

1126 sites15 countries4 traditions30 centuries
Late medieval · Buddhist · Cambodia

Wat Phnom

Phnom Penh, Phnom Penh · 11.5761°, 104.9231°

Gautama BuddhaPost-Angkorian Khmer
Sacred since
1372 CE
first attestation / structure
Standing structure
founded 1372; rebuilt 1926
Post-Angkorian Khmer

History & significance

The Theravada temple on the artificial hill from which Phnom Penh takes its name, traditionally founded in 1372 by the woman known as Lady Penh and rebuilt repeatedly through the nineteenth century and again in 1926. King Ponhea Yat moved the Cambodian capital here in 1397 and a large stupa was later raised for him at the summit; the hill and sanctuary together stand 46 metres high, and the shrine holds four Buddha images and one of Vishnu.

Sthala katha — the legend

Lady Penh is said to have gone down to the river in the rain to bathe and found a floating koki tree carrying five statues, which she housed in a shrine built on a mound raised for the purpose.

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Sources

coordinates: wikipedia-2026-08-27 · sources retrieved 2026-08-26 · dynasty page: Post-Angkorian Khmer