- Address: National Hwy 3, Kampot, Cambodia
- Area: 1400 km²
- Date of foundation: 1993.
A bright and interesting landmark of Cambodia became the National Park Bokor (Phnom Bokor). This is an amazing place, in which the unusual picturesqueness of the jungle and historically important buildings intertwine. Many scientists and botanists come to this park to study flora and fauna.
Park Bokor in Cambodia is an interesting mystical place: before there was a small town, from which now there are several buildings. Local residents of Cambodia will be able to tell you many mysterious stories and legends that are associated with the park.
The Bokor National Park has become the most beautiful place in Southeast Asia and the south of Cambodia. It is included in the list of important mandatory tours around the country, as well as two other national parks - Kirir and Viracha . The park is located on the Elephant Mountains (1000 meters above sea level) and occupies more than 1400 square meters. The highest mountain in the park is Kamtyay (1076 m), it became the second highest mountain in Cambodia.
From the history
In 1917, the French came across a remarkable area. The hot climate was unbearable for Europeans, so soon small huts began to appear in the park area, and then a whole village. King Sisowat Minnow, appreciating the beautiful scenery of the landscape, ordered to build him in the jungle more often the whole residence, which was nicknamed the "Black Palace".
During the war period, the territory of the park served as the secret military base of the country. Much of the terrain was mined. In the midst of the war period, terrible bloody battles were fought in the park, so all the buildings were almost destroyed. Nowadays some areas of the park are inaccessible for visiting, as many war mines have not been found. This is proved by explosions due to the movement of animals. In 2001, an anti-personnel mine explosion destroyed a significant part of the herd of elephants, so deviating from the sightseeing route through the park is very dangerous.
Excursion in the park
In the National Park of Bokor you will find an exciting and interesting excursion. Since the landscape of the park was almost untouched, the administration, trying to preserve the original appearance of the territory, punishes fines by inflicting damage on plants. The first thing that gets in your eyes at the entrance is a terrible overgrown path. It is absolutely safe and more "civilized" than everyone else. If you keep walking along this path, you can get acquainted with all the buildings and interesting places of the park, but not close.
The most comfortable transport for the excursion is a motorcycle, because by car you can not drive along the narrow tropical paths. The first building that will meet you on the road is the former Bokora casino. You can not be afraid to visit it all the halls and basements, because the walls to this day remain very strong. If you venture to climb to the roof of the casino, you can enjoy a beautiful view of the Gulf of Thailand.
After passing the casino, you will stumble on Bokor Hill Station - the main attraction of the park. This is an abandoned town, more precisely what was left of it after the war. In the pre-war period, the place was a resort area, so you can see small buildings of hotels, church, mail, etc. Many tourists are afraid of this place, because there are hundreds of mystical stories related to the ghosts of deceased soldiers in the town. At the moment, the government of Cambodia wants to restore the resort town and make it a tourist center of the state.
We go further, climbing the mountain slopes. They are not cool, so getting to the top will not be difficult at all. If you move slowly, with small stops, then you can get acquainted with the local "inhabitants": monkeys, parrots, etc. Be careful in the afternoon, because before 10.00, predatory animals (bears, lions, jaguars) are looking for prey. In general, you should read in detail the instructions that are issued at the entrance to the park. Of these you can find out where the pythons meet and where are the nests of different inhabitants.
Almost at the top of the mountain, at an altitude of 700 meters, is the famous Black Palace - the most mystical place of Bokor Park. Inside you can see the long corridors, rooms and chambers of King Sisovath Minnow. During the Khmer Rouge war, many events took place here, deadly decrees were issued, secret information of the state was kept. At the moment, from the palace there were only walls, on which you can see a little mosaic and frescoes.
So, after passing the Black Palace in the National Park of Bokor, you will meet with the most pleasant and delightful attraction of the park - the waterfall of Poplavl. The beautiful two-story waterfall impresses with its fullness. You can buy in his pool or stand directly under the falling water. The upper tier of the waterfall is 14 m high and 18 low.
On the territory of the park you can find the beautiful Buddhist temple of Wat Sampo My Roy. It is located on the top of the Kamtyay mountain - the highest point of the park. It offers a wonderful view of the jungle, coast and islands.
How do I get to Bokor Park in Cambodia?
It will not be difficult for you to reach Bokor Park. It is located 41 km from the town of Kampot, 132 km from Sihanoukville and 190 km from Phnom Penh, therefore the main sightseeing buses depart from these cities. The trip from Phnom Penh to the park takes about three hours, so the best option is to travel from Kampot on the very first early bus. On settlements, excursion transport runs every 4 hours, the minimum ticket price is 10 dollars. There are buses at special stations, which are called - Park Bokor.
| | | |
| | | |
| | | |
