Battambang (, , ) is a

province A province is an administrative division within a country or sovereign state, state. The term derives from the ancient Roman , which was the major territorial and administrative unit of the Roman Empire, Roman Empire's territorial possessions ou ...

Cambodia Cambodia, officially the Kingdom of Cambodia, is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. It is bordered by Thailand to the northwest, Laos to the north, and Vietnam to the east, and has a coastline ...

in the far northwest of the country. Bordering provinces are Banteay Meanchey to the north, Pursat to the east and south,

Siem Reap Siem Reap (, ) is the second-largest city of Cambodia, as well as the capital and largest city of Siem Reap Province in northwestern Cambodia. Siem Reap possesses French-colonial and Chinese-style architecture in the Old French Quarter ...

to the northeast, and Pailin to the west. The northern and southern extremes of the province's western boundaries form part of the international border with

Thailand Thailand, officially the Kingdom of Thailand and historically known as Siam (the official name until 1939), is a country in Southeast Asia on the Mainland Southeast Asia, Indochinese Peninsula. With a population of almost 66 million, it spa ...

. In addition,

Tonlé Sap Tonlé Sap (; , ; or commonly translated as 'Great Lake') is a lake in the northwest of Cambodia. Belonging to the Mekong, Mekong River system, Tonlé Sap is the largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia and one of the most diverse and prod ...

forms part of the northeastern boundary between Siem Reap and Pursat. Its capital and largest city is

Battambang Battambang (, Romanization of Khmer#UNGEGN, UNGEGN: ) is the capital of Battambang province and the List of cities and towns in Cambodia, third largest city in Cambodia. The city is situated on the Sangkae River, which winds its way through t ...

. It is the fifth most populous province in Cambodia. In land area, Battambang is the fifth largest province of Cambodia. Battambang is one of the provinces included in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. The province's fertile rice fields have led to a mostly agricultural economy giving rise to the moniker "the rice bowl of Cambodia". The province features a range of cultures as well as natural resources. Seventy five percent of the area is jungles and mountains. The area has a tropical climate.

Etymology

''Battambang'' literally means ' olose stick' in Khmer, referring to the local legend of Preah Bat Dambang Kranhoung. No stone inscriptions from the pre-Angkorian and Angkorian eras have yet been discovered containing mention of any contemporary villages or districts called "Battambang", but according to the document ''Mohachun Khmer'', ''Srok Battambang'' (Battambang District) was used during the Angkor and post-Angkor eras. In Thai, the province is called ''Phra Tabong''.

History

Battambang was annexed by both Siam and Cambodia from time to time because its location is in between both kingdoms. A majority of the local population is of Khonpor or Chong ethnicity, a part of the Austro-Asiatic family. In 1769, Battambang and Siem Reap were conquered by King Taksin of Siam. On March 23, 1907, Battambang, with Siem Reap and Koh Kong, were annexed to French Indochina. During World War II it was annexed to Imperial Japan before being handed over to Thailand. After the war ended, it was returned to an independent Cambodia.

Governors

Annexed to Siam (1795-1907)

Returned to Cambodia by France (1907-1941)

Recaptured by Siam during Japanese Occupation (1941-1946)

Returned to Cambodia and independent from France

Khmer Rouge (1975-1979)

People’s Republic of Kampuchea

Kingdom of Cambodia

Administrative divisions

Battambang is divided into 13 districts and one municipality which are further subdivided into 93 communes (, ''

khum Administrative divisions of the Kingdom of Cambodia have several levels. Cambodia is divided into 24 provinces (''khaet''; ) and the special administrative unit and capital of Phnom Penh. Though a different administrative unit, Phnom Penh is a ...

''), 10 quarters () and 810 villages (, ''

phum Administrative divisions of the Kingdom of Cambodia have several levels. Cambodia is divided into 24 provinces (''khaet''; ) and the special administrative unit and capital of Phnom Penh. Though a different administrative unit, Phnom Penh is a ...

''). Local government entities within the province include the two towns and 12 subdistrict municipalities.

Religion

The state religion is

Theravada Buddhism ''Theravāda'' (; 'School of the Elders'; ) is Buddhism's oldest existing school. The school's adherents, termed ''Theravādins'' ( anglicized from Pali ''theravādī''), have preserved their version of the Buddha's teaching or '' Dhamma'' in ...

. More than 98.3% of the people in Battambang are Buddhists. Chams have been practicing

Islam Islam is an Abrahamic religions, Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the Quran, and the teachings of Muhammad. Adherents of Islam are called Muslims, who are estimated to number Islam by country, 2 billion worldwide and are the world ...

for hundreds of years. A small percentage follow Christianity.

Historical sites

Wat Ek Phnom

Wat Ek Phnom () is a partly collapsed 11th century temple 11 km north of Battambang city. The temple measures 52 m by 49 m and is surrounded by the remains of a

laterite Laterite is a soil type rich in iron and aluminium and is commonly considered to have formed in hot and wet tropical areas. Nearly all laterites are of rusty-red coloration, because of high iron oxide content. They develop by intensive and prolo ...

wall and an ancient ''baray'' (reservoir). A lintel depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk is above the east entrance to the central temple, the upper flanks of which hold some finely carved

bas-reliefs Relief is a sculptural method in which the sculpted pieces remain attached to a solid background of the same material. The term ''relief'' is from the Latin verb , to raise (). To create a sculpture in relief is to give the impression that th ...

. Construction of an oversized

Buddha Siddhartha Gautama, most commonly referred to as the Buddha (),* * * was a wandering ascetic and religious teacher who lived in South Asia during the 6th or 5th century BCE and founded Buddhism. According to Buddhist legends, he was ...

statue began by locals next to the temple has been stopped by the government because, they say, it mars the site's historical provenance and "timeless beauty".Wat Ek Phnom at Lonely Planet

Wat Banan

Wat Banan (), some 25 km south of Battambang city, has been likened to a smaller version of the more imposing

Angkor Wat Angkor Wat (; , "City/Capital of Wat, Temples") is a Buddhism and Hinduism, Hindu-Buddhist temple complex in Cambodia. Located on a site measuring within the ancient Khmer Empire, Khmer capital city of Angkor, it was originally constructed ...

. The 11th century Angkorian mountain ruin of Phnom Banan is one of the best preserved Angkorian Khmer temples around Battambang province. As you approach you will see the distance five tower pointing skyward, Like a small version of Angkor Wat. At the base of the mountain you can faced with a step laterite staircase flanked by nagas. After climbing the 350+ steps you are treated to a wonderfully peaceful setting.

National Bank Colonial Building

Transportation

Battambang is accessible by road, and by boat via the Sangkae River. National Highway 5 runs straight through the province. Both the

airport An airport is an aerodrome with extended facilities, mostly for commercial Aviation, air transport. They usually consist of a landing area, which comprises an aerially accessible open space including at least one operationally active surf ...

and railway line are not in use. Buses make 5-6 hour journey from

Phnom Penh Phnom Penh is the Capital city, capital and List of cities and towns in Cambodia, most populous city of Cambodia. It has been the national capital since 1865 and has grown to become the nation's primate city and its political, economic, industr ...

and the 3-4 hour journey from

almost hourly.

Notable people

* Vann Nath - a Cambodian painter, artist, writer, and human rights activist. *

Chath Piersath Chath Piersath, born in Kop Nymit, Svay Sisophon District, in Battambang Province, is a noted Cambodian American poet, painter and humanitarian. He creates both large and small portraits of people from his memory, often representing the social a ...

- artist. * Pen Ran - musician. * Keo Rumchong - Cambodian Kun Khmer kickboxer * Ros Serey Sothea - musician. * Chhut Serey Vannthong - Cambodian Kun Khmer kickboxer

References

External links

Battambang - The Rice Bowl of Cambodia (Official Website of the Provincial Town Battambang on www.battambang-town.gov.kh)

Beyond Angkor: Historical Sites in Battambang Province
- Unique Graphical Interactive Maps {{coord, 13, 1, 43, N, 102, 59, 22, E, type:adm1st_region:KH, display=title Provinces of Cambodia