Royal palace Phnom Penh

Royal palace Phnom Penh
Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda
Sothearos Blvd. between Streets 240 & 184
Hours 8:00-11:00 / 2:00-5:00, daily
Admission: 25,000R ($6.25)/person Marking the approach to the Royal
Palace along Sothearos Blvd, the
long, yellow, crenellated wall and
spired Chanchhaya Pavilion stand distinctively
against the riverfront skyline.
Inside the Palace grounds street
sounds are silenced by the high walls.
Royal buildings sit like ornate islands
rising from the manicured gardens.
The Royal Palace serves as the residence
of the King, a venue for court
ceremony and as a symbol of the
Kingdom. It was first established at
this location when the capital was
moved to Phnom Penh in 1866 under
King Norodom and the French protectorate.
It attained its current general
form about 1920. Khmer and
European elements as well as distinct
echoes of the palace in Bangkok are
present in the design of the buildings.
Attached to the Palace compound,
Wat Preah Keo Morokat (the 'Silver
Pagoda') is unique amongst pagodas.
So named for its silver tiled floor,
it is where the King meets with
monks, Royal ceremonies are performed
and it houses a collection of
priceless Buddhist and historical
objects including the 'Emerald
Buddha.' Unlike most pagodas, no
monks live at the Silver Pagoda. The
temple building, library and galleries
were first constructed between 1892
and 1902.