Wat Ounalom

About this place

Wat Ounalom is the most important Buddhist temple in Phnom Penh, standing on Sisowath Quay near the Royal Palace. It was the seat of Cambodia's Mahanikaya Order and is regarded as the central institution of Buddhism in the country. Its stupas and colourful roofs can be seen from the street, making an easy stop on a walk along the capital's riverfront. The temple was established in 1443 and has 44 structures, and it is said to be older than the city of Phnom Penh itself. It contains a stupa believed to hold a hair from the Buddha's eyebrow, which gave it its name. The present three-storey ordination hall was built from 1957 to 1960. The temple suffered severe damage in the 1970s and was restored afterwards. You enter through a pointed red and gold gate to see roofs edged with blue and silver decoration and a row of small white and gold stupas. The courtyard holds a large gong and monks' buildings, and monks in their robes move between the halls. From nearby high buildings the temple appears as a patch of colour among the modern city. It is about 1 km in a straight line from central Phnom Penh, within walking distance of the Royal Palace. Cover your shoulders and knees, remove your shoes before entering the halls, keep quiet and do not photograph monks closely without permission. Mornings are calmest, half an hour is enough, and you can then walk on along the riverbank.