The
name Battambang or Batdambang, literally means "loss of stick"
referring to a legend of the Preah Bat Dambang Kranhoung (Kranhoung Stick
King). The population is nowadays around 250,000 people . It's a riverside
town, home to some of the best-preserved, French colonial architecture in the
country.
Until recently Battambang was off the map for road travellers, but facilities have recently been improved and it makes a great base for visiting the nearby temples, such as Phnom Banon and Wat Ek Phnom, as well as the closedby villages.
It's a secondary hub on the overland route between Thailand and Vietnam, and if the National Highway No 6 from Poipet to Siem Reap is ever upgraded it'll become an even smaller hub. The network of charming old French shop houses clustered along the riverbank is the real highlight here, and there are a number of Wats scattered around the town.
The small museum has a collection of Angkorian-era artifacts, and beyond the town there's a number of hilltop temples, yet more Wats and a pretty large lake. One of the more famous hills is Phnom Sampeau (Ship Hill) with the notorious killing caves.
Battambang did not give way to the Khmer Rouge movement after the fall of Phnom Penh, but it?s been in the centre of the ongoing government Khmer Rouge conflict ever since the Vietnamese invasion in 1979 pushed the genocidal regime out of Phnom Penh and to the Northwest. Until the surrender deal of Ieng Sary (Khmer Rouge number three man based in Pailin),Battambang was the Khmer Rouge stronghold in the region.
In the earlier history Battambang flip-flopped back and forth between Thailand (called Siam before their 20th-century renaming) and Cambodia. It's been a part of Thailand most of the time since the 15th century, with Cambodia regaining control (more specifically due the French) in 1907. The Thais grabbed it again, with Japanese assistance, in 1941 and kept the region in their camp until the World War II years in 1947.
The Allied Forces helped persuade the Thais that the region was originally part of ancient Cambodia and the world community would not take kindly to the Thais holding onto it further. Like the rest of the Northwest, there is still a lot of Thai influence apparent. The main currency is still the Thai Baht and many people are able to converse in Thai. But the area is very Khmer, with ancient Khmer ruins scattered around, and even the ways of life are much more similar to the rest of Cambodia than to Thailand.
Until recently Battambang was off the map for road travellers, but facilities have recently been improved and it makes a great base for visiting the nearby temples, such as Phnom Banon and Wat Ek Phnom, as well as the closedby villages.
It's a secondary hub on the overland route between Thailand and Vietnam, and if the National Highway No 6 from Poipet to Siem Reap is ever upgraded it'll become an even smaller hub. The network of charming old French shop houses clustered along the riverbank is the real highlight here, and there are a number of Wats scattered around the town.
The small museum has a collection of Angkorian-era artifacts, and beyond the town there's a number of hilltop temples, yet more Wats and a pretty large lake. One of the more famous hills is Phnom Sampeau (Ship Hill) with the notorious killing caves.
Battambang did not give way to the Khmer Rouge movement after the fall of Phnom Penh, but it?s been in the centre of the ongoing government Khmer Rouge conflict ever since the Vietnamese invasion in 1979 pushed the genocidal regime out of Phnom Penh and to the Northwest. Until the surrender deal of Ieng Sary (Khmer Rouge number three man based in Pailin),Battambang was the Khmer Rouge stronghold in the region.
In the earlier history Battambang flip-flopped back and forth between Thailand (called Siam before their 20th-century renaming) and Cambodia. It's been a part of Thailand most of the time since the 15th century, with Cambodia regaining control (more specifically due the French) in 1907. The Thais grabbed it again, with Japanese assistance, in 1941 and kept the region in their camp until the World War II years in 1947.
The Allied Forces helped persuade the Thais that the region was originally part of ancient Cambodia and the world community would not take kindly to the Thais holding onto it further. Like the rest of the Northwest, there is still a lot of Thai influence apparent. The main currency is still the Thai Baht and many people are able to converse in Thai. But the area is very Khmer, with ancient Khmer ruins scattered around, and even the ways of life are much more similar to the rest of Cambodia than to Thailand.
Battambang city is a peaceful and pleasant place these days. The main parts of the city are situated closed to the Sangker River, a tranquil, small body of water that winds its way through Battambang Province. It is a nice, picturesque setting. As with much of Cambodia, the French architecture is an attractive bonus of the city.
Battambang est la deuxième plus grande ville du Cambodge et de la capitale de la province de Battambang, qui a été fondée au 11ème siècle. Il est l'ancienne capitale de Monton Kmer et se trouve au cœur du nord-ouest du Cambodge. Jusqu'à ce que les années de guerre, où presque toutes les infrastructures a été détruite, il était la principale province du pays rizicole.
Le nom Battambang ou Batdambang, signifie littéralement «perte de bâton», se référant à une légende du Preah Bat Dambang Kranhoung (Kranhoung bâton King). La population est aujourd'hui d'environ 250.000 personnes. Il est une ville fluviale, qui abrite certains des meilleurs préservé, l'architecture coloniale française dans le pays.
Jusqu'à récemment Battambang était de la carte pour les voyageurs de la route, mais les installations ont été récemment amélioré et il fait un excellent point de départ pour visiter les temples à proximité, tels que Phnom Banon et Wat Ek Phnom, ainsi que les villages de closedby.
Il est un hub secondaire sur la voie terrestre entre la Thaïlande et le Vietnam, et si la route nationale n ° 6 de Poipet à Siem Reap est toujours mis à jour il deviendra une plaque tournante encore plus petite. Le réseau de la charmante vieille boutique française maisons regroupées le long de la rivière est le vrai point culminant ici, et il y a un certain nombre de Wats dispersés autour de la ville.
Le petit musée présente une collection d'objets de l'époque angkorienne, et au-delà de la ville il y a un certain nombre de temples perchés, encore plus Wats et un assez grand lac. L'un des plus célèbres collines est Phnom Sampeau (Navire Hill) avec les grottes de massacre notoires.
Battambang n'a pas cédé au mouvement des Khmers rouges après la chute de Phnom Penh, mais il? S été dans le centre du gouvernement en cours Khmers rouges conflit depuis l'invasion vietnamienne en 1979 a poussé le régime génocidaire de Phnom Penh et à la Nord Ouest. Jusqu'à ce que l'accord de rachat de Ieng Sary (Khmers rouges numéro trois basé à Pailin), Battambang était le bastion des Khmers rouges dans la région.
Dans l'histoire plus tôt Battambang volte-face avant et en arrière entre la Thaïlande (appelé Siam avant leur renommage du 20ème siècle) et au Cambodge. Ça a été une partie de la Thaïlande la plupart du temps depuis le 15ème siècle, avec le Cambodge reprendre le contrôle (plus précisément en raison du français) en 1907. Les Thaïlandais saisi à nouveau, avec l'aide japonaise, en 1941 et maintenu la région dans leur camp jusqu'à ce que le Seconde guerre mondiale en 1947 ans.
Les forces alliées ont aidé à persuader les Thaïs que la région faisait partie de l'ancien Cambodge et la communauté internationale ne prendrait pas de bien vouloir les Thaïlandais se tenant sur davantage. Comme le reste du Nord-Ouest, il y a encore beaucoup d'influence thaïlandaise apparente. La monnaie principale est toujours le Baht thaïlandais et beaucoup de gens sont capables de converser en thaï. Mais la région est très khmer, avec d'anciennes ruines khmères éparpillés autour, et même les modes de vie sont beaucoup plus semblable au reste du Cambodge que la Thaïlande.
Battambang ville est un lieu paisible et agréable ces jours-ci. Les parties principales de la ville sont situés fermée à la rivière Sangker, un paisible petit corps d'eau qui serpente à travers la province de Battambang. Il est un cadre agréable et pittoresque. Comme avec beaucoup de Cambodge, l'architecture française est un bonus attractif de la ville.