National Museum of Cambodia, Phnom Penh Overview

The National Museum of Cambodia is located in the capital city of Phnom Penh, Cambodia. It is the largest and the central museum of the country, consisting of more than 15,000 collections depicting various periods in Cambodia's history. If you are interested in history, you will enjoy getting to know the past with these massive collections. It is a highly recommended attraction for tourists while traveling in Phnom Penh.

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The National Museum History & Significance

The National Museum of Cambodia was built in 1920. Constructed in the grand Khmer style, the traditional red building was recently renovated in 1968. It is the largest and the most impressive museum in the country home to an elaborate collection of historical and archaeological discoveries. The museum houses the best compilation of the Khmer empire, obtained from archaeological studies done by researchers and historians from around the world.

The National Museum History Collections

Collections are ranging from prehistoric times to the late 19th century. The findings in the museum are broadly classified into four categories, including stone, metal, wood and ceramics.
The collection of the Khmer period includes stone sculptures, bronze, wooden works, paintings, art and ceramics.
The south pavilion contains collections of prehistoric times between the 5th and 8th centuries before the Khmer period. Most of the sculptures are that of Hindu Gods Vishnu and Shiva, with their style highly resembling Indian architecture.
Pottery works of Funan and Chenla periods, a statue of wrestling monkeys, works of the King Indravarman, different types of Lingas as representations of Lord Shiva and many bronze and wooden works constitute the highlights of this era. The transition from the Indian style of architecture to Khmer's unique style is evident in the next gallery, which consists of hundreds of statues recovered from Siem Reap belonging to the Khmer dynasty.
The most popular and a unique structure belonging to the Khmer era is a reclining stone statue of Hindu God Vishnu, with a well-carved head, shoulders and arms, which was recovered from Angkor Archaeological Park in Siem Reap in 1936.
No photography is permitted in the museum. There are guided tours available in Khmer, English, French and Japanese languages for an additional 6 USD.

How To Reach National Museum of Cambodia

The National Museum is located within the city centre of Phnom Penh and can be easily reached on foot. It takes about 25 minutes to arrive. It is located close to the Royal Palace and the Silver Pagoda, so you can easily combine all three in a day. You can also get there by renting a Tuk Tuk for about 6 USD for a round trip that can be shared. Or reach the palace by hiring a motorbike for about 7 USD per day.