Interesting Facts about Cambodia

Did You Know?

14 curious facts about Cambodia.

• When a child loses a tooth, if they lose a lower tooth, they throw it on the roof. If they lose an uppe rtooth, they put it under their bed. Their parents tell them that the new tooth will grow toward the old one and come in straight.
• Located in Northwestern Cambodia, Angkor, the Capital of the Ancient Khmer Empire was possibly founded around the Ninth Century AD by King Jayavarman II. However, the city reached its peak glory in the 12th Century under Kings Suryavarman II and Jayavarman VII. The most beautiful and most famous monument in the city, Angkor Wat, lies about one kilometer south of the Royal town of Angkor Thom which was founded by Jayavarman VII. The Temple of Angkor Wat was dedicated to the Hindu God Vishnu by King Suryavarman II, who reigned between AD 1131 and 1150. The Temple was constructed over a period of 30 years, and illustrates some of the most beautiful examples of Khmer and Hindu art. Covering an area of about 81 hectares, the complex consists of five towers, which are presently shown on the Cambodian national flag. These towers are believed to represent the five peaks of Mount Meru, the Home of Gods and Center of the Hindu Universe. Angkor Wat features the longest continuous bas-relief in the world, which runs along the outer gallery walls, narrating stories from Hindu Mythology. With the decline of the Ancient Khmer Empire, Angkor Wat was turned into a Buddhist Temple and was continuously maintained, which helped its preservation. In 1992, the UNESCO World Heritage Committee declared the monument, and the whole city of Angkor, a World Heritage Site.
• The Mekong River is the tenth longest river in the world. It flows through China, Myanmar (Burma), Laos, Thailand and Vietnam as well as Cambodia.
• Suryavarman I, who held power from 1002 to 1050, built a huge reservoir, 8 km by 1.6 km, that still supplies water to nearby communities.