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Detail of the roof of the Royal Palace. Phnom Penh. Completed in 1866 the Royal Palace is a must see Phnom Penh sight. It was co
Detail of the roof of the Royal Palace. Phnom Penh. Completed in 1866 the Royal Palace is a must see Phnom Penh sight. It was constructed in stages after the French inspired move of the capital from nearby Oudong to Phnom Penh. It draws heavily on the design of the more substantial Royal Palace in Bangkok. Its presentation to visitors is largely free of substantial information or context, making it a difficult sight to connect with beyond the superficial. The thousands of stories from the past century lingering behind the palace walls could make it one of the most compelling sights in Cambodia and Asia - but for now, those stories remain trapped behind the walls. Travellers have to satisfy themselves admiring the structures, their contents and what they reveal of a rich cultural tradition. The palace includes a bizarre 1876 gift from Napoleon III. This cast iron pavilion was used at the opening of the Suez Canal in Egypt before being shipped and reassembled in Phnom Penh. It is said to have been a favourite building of King Norodom I. The Silver Pagoda is the most admired structure in the palace complex. Named after the more than 5000 tiles that decorate its floor, it has served as a place of meditation, religious counsel and Buddhist ritual for Cambodia's kings. King Sihanouk spent a year living at the pagoda as part of his coronation ritual in 1947. The Silver Pagoda is home to many Buddhist treasures, the most important of which is the Emerald Buddha (the pagoda is also known as the Emerald Buddha Pagoda).
Size: 6144px × 4113px
Photo credit: © Sergi Reboredo / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
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