Phnom Kulen
Also known as Kulen Mountain, is a 25 by 15 km plateau located 40 km northeast of Angkor and Siem Reap in north-western Cambodia. It features a series of hills rising between 300 and 500 meters, and to its northwest, an equivalent but inhabited range.
Once neglected after civil war, Phnom Kulen remains largely unexplored but hosts numerous archaeological sites-sculpted riverbeds, caves, hydraulic structures, and 1200-year-old temples. It was a key site during the Angkorian period and is now facing environmental challenges due to a growing population. It remains a popular destination for Cambodians.
A Remarkable Site
Phnom Kulen holds archaeological, cultural, and religious importance. It’s a pilgrimage site, home to Cambodia’s lush tropical forests, a large waterfall, and sacred sites like the carved river beds and Preah Ang Thom pagoda with a giant reclining Buddha.
At the beginning of the 9th century, King Jayavarman II declared his independence and sovereignty from this capital Mahendraparvata (“Mountain of the Great Indra”), an event to which his successors would later refer and which is today considered to be the beginning of the peak period of the Angkorian Empire.
In 1993, 37,500 hectares were protected with the status of national park (Preah Jayavarman-Norodom Phnom Kulen), expanded to 62,883 hectares in 2023. The Siem Reap River originates here, feeding the Angkor complex.
It is registered since 1992 on the Government of Cambodia’s tentative list as a UNESCO World Heritage potential cultural site, as it presents the remains of Mahendraparvata’s ancient city with numerous temples and a recently discovered urban network, numerous hermits’ sites, dating from the 10th to the 13th centuries, along with a few prehistoric sites.
Despite its significance, Phnom Kulen faces threats like poaching, deforestation, illegal logging, unregulated tourism, and land disputes.
A complex environment
Phnom Kulen’s strategic location made it an early and long-lasting Khmer Rouge stronghold (1970-1996), leaving landmines and unexploded ordnance. Today, about 5,000 residents live in 10 villages, previously subsistence farmers practicing slash-and-burn agriculture, but since the early 2000, converting these plots into illegal and permanent cashew plantations.
Environmental impacts from population growth, illegal logging, and unregulated tourism—such as illegal constructions and pollution—pose ongoing challenges. Authorities like APSARA National Authority, the Ministry of Environment work to address these issues with ADF’s technical support.
A bit of History
In the early 9th century, Phnom Kulen was a royal capital, with a royal palace, temples, reservoirs, and a large urban network, reflecting a thriving civilization that will influence Southeast Asia for centuries.
By establishing one of the first capitals in the Angkor region and proclaiming his independence and sovereignty, King Jayavarman II inaugurated a period that modern historians refer to as the Angkorian period (9th to the 15th century). After the departure of this capital, Phnom Kulen showed continuous occupation during the Angkorian period and beyond, until the 16th century.
ADF’s ongoing archaeological research aims to better understand its history and occupation timeline.
Visit Phnom Kulen
Just two hours from Angkor, Phnom Kulen is a popular tourist and pilgrimage destination. Recognized for its environmental and historical importance, the Cambodian government designated it a protected area since 1993, and it is registered since 1992 on the Government of Cambodia’s tentative list as a UNESCO World Heritage potential cultural site.
Local travel agency Terre Cambodge offer tours, including rural village visits supporting our development projects. Since 2018, ADF has partnered with Terre Cambodge and the ministry of Environment to establish Community-based Tourism Centres in Anlong Thom and Popel villages, providing additional income and promoting responsible ecotourism. Since 2024, they have benefited from the support project of Sala Bai and ADF. These centres offer guided tours, local crafts, a cultural and natural experience.
Anlong Thom Community-Based Tourism Centre
Please contact the Anlong Thom centre here:
https://www.facebook.com/PhnomKulenCommunity
Popel Community-Based Tourism Centre
Please contact the Popel centre here:
https://www.facebook.com/PopelCommunityProtectedArea