10 Best Things To Do in Battambang

Battambang being the leading rice producer of Cambodia has plenty to other structural sights in its store. Check this list of things to do in Battambang for an exhilarating tour with your friends or family. The basic tourist destinations of Battambang are related to the city’s religion as well as culture.

History will be recreated if you visit the sculptures, ruins, and relics of Khmer empire. It is well portrayed in the architecture of all the buildings you will see here. Among them, Wat Banan is the most famous temple dedicated to Lord Buddha; all the temples for that matter depict the influence of Buddhism. Serenity covers all these temples and altogether the landscape here represents the originality of an ancient culture in a deeper way. Apart from the temples, Wildlife Park, Crocodile park, pagodas and much more are there keep the city attractive each time.

Here are some of the best things to do in Battambang:

01

Visit Wat Banan Temple

Image Credit : Nomad Tales

This is a hill temple in the second largest city of Cambodia, dedicated to Lord Buddha. Though it is not clearly visible as to who constructed this temple and when it was constructed, there are enough evidences and architectural remnants to prove that this must have been built many centuries ago.

Highlights – Wat Banan Temple is located on top of a hill and it takes around 300 steep and difficult set of stairs to get to this temple. There are five huge towers in this Buddhist temple, out of which most of them are in a dilapidated state today. The vast growth of vegetation hides the view of these majestic towers from the road, so it is quite difficult to actually spot the temple. The carvings of the now-headless apsaras on the towers make the hard route worth every second.

Visit Wat Banan Temple

Image Credits : Jodie Gallagher

Location – Located at about 45minutes from the famous Mount Sampeau.

Timings – 7AM to 7PM.

Price – About USD2 for going up the hill.

02

Visit Phnom Sampeau

This is also one of the famous yet fearful hill temples of Battambang, as it is located in the notorious location of Killing Fields. This was the area where innocent citizens were tortured to death during the nasty Khmer Rouge rule between 1975 and 1979. On top of the hill, one can find recently-constructed temples in traditional Khmer architectural styles, providing a panoramic view of Battambang city.

Highlights – Visit the hill during the early morning or late evening hours so that you don’t feel the scorching heat of the sun. As you go up the hill, you will find a canyon filled with a canopy of greenery. The way that leads into the hill summit is filled with various macaques. In the evening, witness thousands of bats fly off from the caves at the base of the hill.

Visit Phnom Sampeau

Image Credits : Tee La Rosa

Location - Found at a distance of about 12km towards the southwest of Battambang.

Timings – Open all through the day.

Price – Takes around USD2 or USD3 to get to the top of the hill.

03

Visit Wat Ek Phnom

When you are visiting Battambang, you must visit this beautiful architecture marvel, built in traditional Khmer style. This is a Hindu temple, which shows its class even in its dilapidated form.

Highlights – Constructed by King Suryavarman I during the 11th century, the remnants of the temple can be accessed through a huge Buddhist pagoda, circled by 18 Bodhi trees. This pagoda, in turn, can be accessed through a path that also houses the massive white-stoned Buddha statue. The bas-reliefs found on the remnants of this temple relate to tales pertaining to the Hindu God, Krishna. Intricately carved lintels and pediments are the major highlights here.

Visit Wat Ek Phnom

Image Credits : ronan crowley

Location – Situated close to Peam Aek spot, towards the left bank of River Sangkae, about 13km towards the north of Battambang.

Timings – All through the day.

Price – USD2 entry fee per person.

04

Visit White Elephant Pagoda (Wat Tahm-rai-saw)

This is one of the most important tourists spots in Battambang. Dedicated to Lord Buddha, this temple blows away the minds of tourists with its excellent architecture. Compared to the other Angkor temples in Cambodia, this is quite a new temple, as it was constructed in the mid of 19th century. However, certain parts of the temple are slowly getting destroyed.

Highlights – White Elephant Pagoda, also known as Wat Tahm –rai-saw, is a temple which has huge, life-size sculptures of white elephants carrying portraits of a prince, as depicted in the story of Lord Buddha. This is one of the modern temples that need to be visited for the sheer architectural brilliance employed here.

Visit White Elephant Pagoda (Wat Tahm-rai-saw)

Location – Battambang, Cambodia.

Timings – Open throughout the day, but best visited during day light.

Price – Admission is free of cost.

05

Visit Battambang Crocodile Farm

Battambang, one of the biggest cities in Cambodia is known for housing many tourist attractions. Crocodile Farm is one of them.

Highlights – The crocodile farm is one of the must-visit places for any animal lover. When you pay the necessary admission fee, you will be able to hold baby crocodiles in your hands – a one of a kind experience in your lifetime. Though there are lots of crocodile farms are found in Cambodia, this is one of the famous of the group. When crocodiles grow to a particular age, they are killed by giving injections and various products using their skin are sold in the local markets here. When you come here you will get introduced to the day to day lifestyle and feeding patterns of these crocodiles.

Visit Battambang Crocodile Farm

Location – Battambang.

Timings – All through the day.

Price – Entry fee of USD3 for entry.

06

Visit Sammaki Art Space

Battambang is one of those places in Cambodia which gives importance to art and culture. Sammaki Art Space is a venue which promotes and documents free art forms from budding and famous artists from all over the world.

Highlights – In the Khmer language, Sammaki means unity. If you are a art lover visit Battambang during the times of Angkor Art Expo. This is a single platform where you will get to witness art forms of all types. Come here to witness the developing relationship between local and international artisans in Battambang. The art scene in Battambang witnesses various galleries featuring exhibitions from local and international artisans.

Location – Battambang.

Timings – Any time through the year.

Entry fee – Depends on the art galleries.

07

Visit Lotus Farm

If you love lotus flowers and if you have been craving to see thousands of flowers at one single place, the Lotus Farm at Battambang, Cambodia, is the place you have to be.

Highlights – Apart from witnessing the flowers, you can get first-hand experience of how lotus plants are cultivated, how they are converted into various purposes. Do not miss to see the lotus fabric production when you come here. This is a process where selected lotus stems are cleaned thoroughly and then cut open to bring out the fibres. These fibres are then spun nicely into a thread by the weaving experts found here. Thee threads are very fine and resemble silk and the added advantage of these lotus threads is that no worms or other living beings are disturbed in this process.

Visit Lotus Farm

Location – Kamping Poy, Battambang.

Timings – Open all through the day.

Price – Entrance is free of cost here.

08

Visit Battambang Provincial Museum

Angkor in Cambodia is known to the world as one of the hubs in art and crafts, pottery, music, culture and heritage. If there is one place where you can witness these exotic collections in one place it is the Battambang Provincial Museum.

Highlights – This museum was constructed during 1963 by Madeleine Giteau. It is a repository of collections that include various musical instruments, pottery, art forms, 1000 year old Khmer relics, artefacts and other evidences that have been left from the atrocious rule of Khmer Rouge that lasted between 1975 and 1979. All the collections found in this museum belong to pre and post Angkorian era. The museum has labels in English, French and the local Khmer language for the benefit of visitors coming here.

Location – Kamkor Village, Battambang Province towards Western Cambodia.

Timing – 8AM to 11AM and 2PM to 5.30PM.

Price – Entry fee of USD1 applicable only for foreign tourists.

09

Visit Battambang Bat Caves

Image Credit : hobgadlng

When you visit Battambang, one of the places that you just cannot afford to miss is the bat caves at the base of Mount Sampeou. This is one of the top most tourist attractions here, which is why you can spot many foreigners around these caves. They are also known as Killing Caves.

Highlights – Bats, as we know, are nocturnal birds. Every evening, especially after sunset, you can witness thousands of bats fly out these caves into the woods nearby. You can continue to watch this spectacle for about 40 minutes, as that’s the time required for all the bats to fly out. However, it is best to leave within ten minutes, if you don’t want to put your lives at risk. There lots of bikes available to take you to the top of the mountain and back to the base at the evening, just in time for bat-spotting.

Location – Battambang.

Timings – Only in the evenings

Price – Around USD3 for trekking up the hill.

10

Battambang Lotus Hotel

Battambang is filled with resorts that offer excellent relaxation and comfort to guests coming here in large numbers. Lotus hotel located in the heart of Battambang is one of them.

Battambang Lotus Hotel

Highlights – You will be spoilt for choice when you come to this scenic resort as there are lots of ways in which you can quench your hunger for relaxation. Lotus Hotel offers guests excellent hospitality and memories to take back to their respective countries. There are lots of guided tours available here for guests to choose from.

Location – Sangkat Ratanak, Battambang.

Price – Tariff is in the range between USD17 and USD20.

Activities & Amenities – Free Wi-Fi, free transfers to nearby bus station, taxi stand or boat stops, wood-furnished interiors, centralised air-conditioned rooms, relaxing massages in the steam room, 24/7 room service, travel desk, laundry service and many more.

Distance from main city – 5 minutes away from bus stand of Battambang and about 5 minutes of walk from Stung Sangke River.

Food – Excellent Cambodian and Western cuisine served here.

Battambang Top Attractions

Places To Visit In Battambang

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White Elephant Pagoda (Wat Tahm Rai Saw)

This is one of the most important tourists spots in Battambang. Dedicated to Lord Buddha, this temple blows away the minds of tourists with its excellent architecture. Compared to the other Angkor temples in Cambodia, this is quite a new temple, as it was constructed in the mid of 19th century. However, certain parts of the temple are slowly getting destroyed. Highlights – White Elephant Pagoda, also known as Wat Tahm –rai-saw, is a temple which has huge, life-size sculptures of white elephants carrying portraits of a prince, as depicted in the story of Lord Buddha. This is one of the modern temples that need to be visited for the sheer architectural brilliance employed here. Location – Battambang, Cambodia.Timings – Open throughout the day, but best visited during day light. Price – Admission is free of cost.