Wat Phnom Daun Penh of Phnom Penh, Cambodia

Sraa Chak Pagoda (Wat Srash Chok)
Phnom Penh, Kingdom of Cambodia

Location Map:- .
| Click on Calmet Hospital Link from Image Map |
Merely few hundred yards away from the road (Maot Chrouk Road) opposite Phnom Penh Hotel & Calmet Hospital (not too far from the British and French Embassies)

I cannot find any reference of how many Cambodian temples are there in this Buddhist majority Nation. I was told, Wat Ounalom is the country's Buddhist Supreme Patriarch but never had the chance to ask or check. Anyway, other than the much publicize Wat Phnom that I had created the site earlier, there are quite a number of others, which includes Phnom Penh’s five original monasteries (1422) like Wat Botum, Wat Langka, Wat Koh etc. However, I am more incline to talk a look at the "ordinary" or typical - ones that most public goes rather than tourists. Across the Phnom Penh Hotel where I was staying during this trip; there are actually a few Cambodian temples, one of which that I returned and took a full afternoon to get a real feel of Cambodian culture as it was coincidentally a Buddhist celebrity day for the locals.

Generally, temples in Cambodian are generally named individually as "Wat" or Pagodas. They can be several structures are encompassed or when a famous figure had his ashes housed in a Stupa or Chedi, the name could override the name of the Wat by using the Pagoda. In any case, every typical temple will has a central ornate sanctuary (Thai may refer it as Viham, here it sounds like Vihara or Vihearm - for an example, the photo at the top of this page is the center stage of the Sraa Chak Pagoda). Most raw Cambodian temples for locals has a lesser influence of Indian flavor - even if they are termed as Khmer Temples. Popular statues like Naga, dvarapala, chinthe are not installed everywhere like the Angkor Wat kind of design. But one way or another, usually the entrance arc and pillars still retained the ancient feel and look. Similarly, the apparent feel of typical ancient Khmer architecture was at its entrance, although inside, the use of such design are lesser in numbers. Unlike other popular tourist Buddhist landmarks or destinations, admission into one of these local temples is free, even for foreigners. The few young monks that I met and a young, handsome man, Pheach Pheara who mixed with them was incredibly friendly. They voluntarily escort and show me around the entire premises, answered many questions and even lead to me to meet the Chief of this temple, Chean Sothy where I had my first blessing via a Cambodian way.

According to the chief monk, Chean Sothy, Wat (Sraa Chak Pagoda) is not as good as the 633 years old (as t 2005) Wat Phnom but it has a few hundred years old history as well. The current state of the temple was a result of a sequence of reconstruction processes, the last phase of restoration and construction of the main hall occurred 15 years ago i.e. 1990-1992. The wat is made up of several structures with the Vihearm located at the center, at the front and behind hide a Pagoda and a few Chedi of smaller scales. The left and right smaller units of residence could have been handled and operated individually by senior ranking monks and each of them also had smaller installation Buddhist images; each locations can accept or attend to public on request for blessing or other affairs Naturally, the Chao-a-Wat place of work or rest is located next to the Vihearm. The rest of other monks of junior ranking stay at the rear section where it was prohibited for entry. At the front, a few small Stupas which was decorated by a few statues depicting life and death cycles. I would think most of others could be following this model of arrangement of various structures and design. However, some well established Wat / Temples in Cambodia also operate Schools for the poor as well as permitting the homeless to temporarily seeking for shelter at day or night, the one issue is, some of them are making use of the main hall instead of the side structures - so, it may presents a little strange and uneasy feelings when you notice there are people sleeping at the center stage. I was told they are not permitted to do so, but there are some uncontrolled disciplinary issue to deal with the homeless intruders.

Sraa Chok Pagoda/Wat location has a hospital. The distinguish looking dark, pinkish colour Khmer style Buddhist arc mirrors the past ancient Angkor era architecture. The Vihhear was restored and reconstruct in 1990. Most Cambodian Buddhist temples also have one or few huge, tall flag pole, the same goes for this temple.

From an old historical pictures hanged at the chief's room, the Wat had the Royal endorsement (another with Price Sihanouk family visit).

The few monks on duties are guarding the main hall (vihaar)

The decorative paintings on the wall, pillars and ceiling are all about the events, miracles and life of Lord Buddha. Note the homeless are sleeping on the floor ?

Okay. Noting the BEFORE and AFTER the restoration which involved the center images - just compared with the Princess's photo above for comparison.

The current Chief Monk of Wat Sraa Chok Pagoda.Prach Chean Sothy. He spent quite a long spell at US, under invitation of some Buddhist Association of Khmer. Me and my friends were being blessed by him. I had a good idea of witnessing how Cambodian monk chant and blessed (It is different from the Thai, where it involved numerous blowing of the amulets during intervals of chanting. Prior to this, some perfume was applied to our amulets and a long session of chanting began, with holy water souped with his amulets and flowers. The general local way is to bring your flowers like Lotus, chrysanthemum etc. You can offer your gifts in the form of rice or others (or dollar notes...).

For more serious request, the Chief will have you to go to the back , I snaked in and took a quick snap - see HOW it goes.. He SHOWERs the worshipers while performing the blessing. Obviously, we are not well geared for that and took a light watering. One way or another, through my observation, the juniors and even the visitors like our friendly guide, Pheach Pheara have great respect for him (errr .. I sensed in between, it carries a sense of fear factor ..

We may not have seen many locals wearing portable amulets like the Thai. But during a ritual blessing, the bowl that contained the holy water does used some amulets.

Another scene that I noticed was an elderly who wrote scripts for worshippers.

To get a rough idea what do a monk installed in his room, click for a large image to see the details.

Based on request, I had a group photo with some of the helpful guys. The one in casual is the English speaking Pheach Pheara who voluntarily acted as our temple guide.

Kim Vuthay, was one of them. This is his quarter, it is a good representation of a more senior ranked Monk in able to have a premises on their own to serve the public.

All the monks live in a strict code of living, you take care of yourself in day to day living requirements.

Like the Thai and Burmese, Cambodian also practices traditional way is requiring the male entering monk hood at least few months in their life to learn native Buddhist codes in morale values, philosophy thinking as well as practice Buddhist form of chanting. The few young monks I met were memorizing and chanting a loud while I was there. One way or another, various Buddhist temples also serve as a learning centre for education for the poor and unaffordables. Some Wats even have courses to teach medical studies on local herbs and provides basic training for administrative organization and/or temple management.

You may not get used to this form. Upon request (or a form of income); the Wat can host the ashes or remains of the death of public. In and around the mini-public Stupas you can find a series of statues depicting the life cycle of a human life.

From commonly seen Buddhist statues of medium size (MOSTLY images of Lord Buddha) which usually are installed inside the covered premises. Some, like the Leccee (center) has a different form from the Thai (more inclined to Indian appearance). The far right is another figure positioned near the stupas/chedi to protect the spirits of the death.

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A brief vitist to other Cambodian Khmer Wat and Temples in and around Phnom Penh City and other issues

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Sraa Chok Pagoda/Wat location has a hospital. The distinguish looking dark, pinkish colour Khmer style Buddhist arc mirrors the past ancient Angkor era architecture. The Vihhear was restored and reconstruct in 1990. Most Cambodian Buddhist temples also have one or few huge, tall flag pole, the same goes for this temple.			From an old historical pictures hanged at the chief's room, the Wat had the Royal endorsement (another with Price Sihanouk family visit).



The few monks on duties are guarding the main hall (vihaar)	The decorative paintings on the wall, pillars and ceiling are all about the events, miracles and life of Lord Buddha. Note the homeless are sleeping on the floor ?	Okay. Noting the BEFORE and AFTER the restoration which involved the center images - just compared with the Princess's photo above for comparison.


We may not have seen many locals wearing portable amulets like the Thai. But during a ritual blessing, the bowl that contained the holy water does used some amulets.	Another scene that I noticed was an elderly who wrote scripts for worshippers.	To get a rough idea what do a monk installed in his room, click for a large image to see the details.


Based on request, I had a group photo with some of the helpful guys. The one in casual is the English speaking Pheach Pheara who voluntarily acted as our temple guide.	Kim Vuthay, was one of them. This is his quarter, it is a good representation of a more senior ranked Monk in able to have a premises on their own to serve the public.	All the monks live in a strict code of living, you take care of yourself in day to day living requirements.


You may not get used to this form. Upon request (or a form of income); the Wat can host the ashes or remains of the death of public. In and around the mini-public Stupas you can find a series of statues depicting the life cycle of a human life.


From commonly seen Buddhist statues of medium size (MOSTLY images of Lord Buddha) which usually are installed inside the covered premises. Some, like the Leccee (center) has a different form from the Thai (more inclined to Indian appearance). The far right is another figure positioned near the stupas/chedi to protect the spirits of the death.