The Independence Monument ( ) in

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 ...

, capital of

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 ...

, was built in 1958 to memorialise Cambodia's independence from France in 1953. It stands on a roundabout in the intersection of

Norodom Boulevard Norodom Boulevard (), also called Street 41 (), is a major boulevard in Cambodia and one of Phnom Penh's oldest arterial roads. It was named after King Norodom. It connects with Monivong Bridge in the south-east of the city at the Bassac Riv ...

and

Sihanouk Boulevard Sihanouk Boulevard () is a central boulevard of Phnom Penh which is the capital of Cambodia. The boulevard crosses the city in an east–west direction. It is named in honour of the late King Norodom Sihanouk, one of the country's greatest kings. ...

in the centre of the city. It is in the form of a lotus-shaped

stupa In Buddhism, a stupa (, ) is a domed hemispherical structure containing several types of sacred relics, including images, statues, metals, and '' śarīra''—the remains of Buddhist monks or nuns. It is used as a place of pilgrimage and m ...

, of the style seen at the temple at

Banteay Srei Banteay Srei ( ) is a 10th century CE Cambodian temple dedicated to the Hindus, Hindu gods Shiva and Parvati. Located in the area of Angkor, it lies near the hill of Phnom Dei, north-east of the main group of temples that once belonged to the m ...

and other Khmer historical sites. The Independence Monument was designed by the Cambodian architect

Vann Molyvann Vann Molyvann (; 23 November 1926 – 28 September 2017) was a Cambodian architect and urban planner. Molyvann is best known as pioneering the style known as New Khmer Architecture, which combined Modernist architect, modernism and Khmer archite ...

, who was “personally selected and instructed” by Prince

Norodom Sihanouk Norodom Sihanouk (; 31 October 192215 October 2012) was a member of the House of Norodom, Cambodian royal house who led the country as Monarchy of Cambodia, King, List of heads of state of Cambodia, Chief of State and Prime Minister of Cambodi ...

on how it should look like, combining “the religious and the secular.” It stands 37 metres tall. During national celebrations, the Independence Monument is the centre of activity. A ceremonial flame on the interior pedestal is often lit by a royal or high official on these occasions, and floral tributes line the stairs. Every year, the Independence Monument is visited by foreign tourists and locals alike. Behind the monument is the Norodom Sihanouk Memorial, constructed in 2013.

Notes

Monuments and memorials in Cambodia Buildings and structures in Phnom Penh Tourist attractions in Phnom Penh Buildings and structures completed in 1962 {{Cambodia-struct-stub