[2025 Samraong Attraction] Travel Guide for Chisor Mountain Temple (Updated Oct)

#summervacay ### **📍 Location:** 42km south of Phnom Penh, Takeo Province ### **⏰ Best Time to Visit:** Sunrise to 10AM or 3PM to Sunset (Avoid midday heat!) ### **💰 Budget Breakdown:** - **Entrance Fee:** $3 (Includes temple & museum) - **Transport:** - Private tuk-tuk from PP: $35-40 roundtrip - Motorbike adventure: $10 fuel + $5 parking - Local bus to Takeo + moto: $8 total - **Extras:** - Cold coconut at summit: $1 - Donation box for temple monks **⏳ Time Needed:** 3-4 hours (Including climb) --- ### **✨ Why Phnom Chisor?** 1️⃣ **Breathtaking 360° views** of rice fields and distant mountains 2️⃣ **Ancient temple with intact carvings** from the 11th century 3️⃣ **Active pilgrimage site** with colorful local rituals **🧗 The Ascent:** - **412 steps** to the summit (Take breaks at shaded landings) - **Alternative route:** Forest trail for adventurers (Ask locals) **💡 Solo Explorer Tips:** ✔️ **Start early** to hear morning monks' chants ✔️ **Wear covered shoulders/knees** – active temple ✔️ **Hire a local guide** ($5) to decode hidden symbolism ✔️ **Sunset spectacular** – but bring a flashlight for descent **📸 Must-Capture Moments:** ◼️ Framing temple gates with endless rice fields below ◼️ Ancient lintel carvings glowing in golden light ◼️ Local devotees making offerings **🍍 Village Encounters:** - Try palm sugar sweets at base stalls - Visit nearby potter’s workshops #MountainTemple #CambodiaOffGrid #SpiritualHike **"Where every step upward brings deeper peace – and views that steal your breath twice over."** *(Note: Elderly visitors can hire a moto-taxi ($3) for summit access via back road)* **🚗 Getting There:** Follow National Road 2 → Look for signed turn at Samrong town. The final 5km road winds through lotus ponds!

Takeo Province is a hidden gem for history buffs and cultural explorers. While it lacks the polish of Cambodia’s mainstream destinations, its raw charm and ancient sites offer a unique glimpse into rural Khmer life. Manage expectations about amenities, and prioritize hiring a local guide for deeper insights.

#2024wish I had the opportunity to visit Phnom Chisor Mountain in Takeo Province of Cambodia, and it turned out to be a wonderful day. The view from the mountain was absolutely breathtaking. Phnom Chisor is a 13-meter-high historical site in Sia village, Rovieng commune, Samrong district, Cambodia. Built in the early 11th century by King Suryavarman I, it is surrounded by two galleries and a main worship place. The temple was destroyed by war in the 1970s and rebuilt in 1979. It features a hall called Thammasaphea, a kof, and a worship place. The site also houses a large rock yard and a mountain cave called Vimean Chan. The Han Sen Phnom Chisor Agricultural and Tourist Site, located in Samrong, Bati, and Prey Kabas districts, includes a 513-hectare paddy rice field, 1,386-hectare field of wet rice, and three water basins. The site is popular with visitors, especially during festivals, and offers a panoramic view of Takeo Province rice paddies. I suggest paying a visit to Phnom Chisor, as it promises a remarkable experience with the awe-inspiring temple situated on the beautiful Chiso mountain. #chisormountaintemple #historicallandmarks #ancientlandmark

In the south of Phnom Penh, about 50 kilometers along Cambodia's National Highway 2, you will see Phnom Chisor mountain standing on the plain. The Phnom Chisor temple is located on the top of the mountain. A moment in a thousand years, the wind and sand can't hide its history, and time can't take away its glory. Phnom Chisor Temple is a typical Khmer Angkor style temple. If you don't have time to go to Angkor in Phnom Penh, it's a good choice to come here. It is said that the buildings on Phnom Chisor are the earliest capital of the Funan Kingdom in history, and its history is earlier than the Angkor ruins. The Book of Jin records that Funan is more than 3,000 miles west of Linyi, in the large bay of the sea, with a vast territory of 3,000 miles and cities and palaces. Why is this Southeast Asian country, which first appeared in ancient Chinese history books, from development to glory, and then to desolation? 📭 Travel tips: 1. You can take a five-seat sedan in Phnom Penh to go there, and you can drive directly to the top of the mountain. It is recommended to go in the afternoon, you can sit on the mountain and blow the evening wind, watch the sunset. 2. There are local food stalls next to the ruins. You can order a chicken to make a dish and a soup, enough for 3-4 people to eat, 50,000 riel (Cambodian currency, equivalent to about 87 yuan in RMB).