Oudong
Travel 40 kilometres northwest out of Phnom Penh and you’ll come across a sleepy town called Oudong. Once a capital of the Khmer empire, Oudong is home to the Phnom Udong mountain, the site of a string of picturesque temples overlooking the town below.
Founded by King Srei Soryapor in 1601, Oudong was for several hundred years a city of significant cultural importance. Under the reign of King Ang Duong (1841-1850), canals, terraces and bridges were constructed and hundreds of pagodas were erected across the region.
According to local legend, in the 18th century a Chinese king sent scouts across Asia to identify potential threats to his power. When they arrived at Oudong they were shocked by the wealth and power of Khmer society. They saw a mountain shaped like a naga, with a gaping cavern on top. Hurrying home, they informed their king that the Khmers were a powerful race, and should a Naga appear through the mouth of the cavern, they would be strong enough to rule the world.
To avoid this threat and stave off a potential war with a powerful enemy, he asked the Khmer king if he could build a temple above the cavern, with the Buddha facing towards China in order to protect his kingdom. This temple stands above the town to this day and is known as the Arthross Temple.
After an illustrious period as a centre of the Khmer power, Oudong was abandoned by King Norodom in 1866 in favour of Phnom Penh. However, Oudong remains as a wonderful slice of Khmer heritage for the curious visitor, just outside of Phnom Penh—making it the perfect daytrip.
