An ancient Khmer, Phnom Kulen was called Mahendraparvata, “Mountain of Indra, the King of the Gods”. It was a thriving city around the size of modern Phnom Penh and the birthplace of the Khmer empire, where King Jayavarman II proclaimed Cambodia’s independence from Java in AD 802. Following this, the capital moved to Roluos (formerly called Hariharalaya).
Though known of by locals, the Kulen’s ancient city was formally rediscovered by explorers in 2012. Starting with a ground expedition and later employing LIDAR technology, Jean-Baptiste Chevance and Damian Evans uncovered Mahendraparvata and several historically important temples, like Prasat O’Paong, which is shaped like a pyramid, with three levels and five towers, similar to those of Angkor Wat
Phnom Kulen is within the Kulen National Park, which requires a separate ticket. It’s $20 per person if bought at the gate at the entrance to the mountain. Cambodians can enter the park for free.
Phnom Kulen is 48km from Siem Reap and can take 1.5-2 hours to reach by car or van, longer but then that will only be if you want to walk up and back down again (approx. 2 hours each way, and absolutely stunning) as tuk tuk’s aren’t capable of making the steep journey to the top.
Phnom Kulen National Park. It is here that you need to pay for your ticket, if you didn’t buy it, and show your tickets to go through. There are good toilet facilities here.
From the ticket office, it’s another 20 or so minutes of windy roads until you reach the top, where there are lots of markets selling souvenirs, clothing, snacks and drinks. From here you walk the rest of the way, following the grand staircase up to the pagoda or the lower path that leads to the waterfall and the picnic areas.
Kulen Mountain, start by taking the large road to the right of the main street that leads to the entrance gate of Phnom Kulen National Park. . When you reach Wat Preah Cup, follow the stairs on the right side of the pagoda to explore a natural spring, swimming pool and spirit house. When finished exploring, take the stairs on the left side of the pagoda to reach a dirt path through the jungle. Follow this path for about an hour until you emerge in a small village, and keep walking until you reach the bridge near Kbal Spean. Expect to be asked for your entrance ticket at this point. From there, it’s an easy walk to Wat Preah Ang Thom, Kbal Spean, or the Phnom Kulen waterfalls.
A private taxi / car for the day is around $70 and vans from $80-100. Organized tours including an experienced English-speaking guide are available as well. It’s worth booking ahead, as it will save you time when in Siem Reap.
One of the most popular attractions in Cambodia is the majestic Phnom Kulen mountain, located about 1.5-2 hours away from Siem Reap. The mountain was given its name due to the abundance of lychee trees it once hosted, and nowadays offers visitors a beautiful view, as well as fun activities such as picnicking and waterfall swimming. For those who plan to drive up to the top of Kulen Mountain, you need to get there early, as the road is one-way traffic only.
Located about 50 kilometers from the city of Siem Reap, Phnom Kulen is one of Cambodia’s most revered sites. According to legend, it was here that King Jayavarman II declared independence from Java in 802 CE and thus began the Khmer Empire – as an independent nation.
Additionally, it’s a very sacred site with multiple temples easily accessible. Two sites most noted are the Thousand Lingas at Kbal Spean, within the Kulen National Park site and Preah Ang Thom pagoda with its giant reclining Buddha. The area is a magnet to “kru khmer” (natural medicine doctors), and attracts people seeking blessings from its holy waters, particularly the potent life-giving waters that are said to help couples conceive.
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Siem Reap Tours in Kulen National Park Waterfall