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    Battambang in 72 hours

    / Last updated 10 Feb 2014

    Introduction

    A gallery of 72 hours exploring Battambang, Cambodia's sleepy second biggest city in the country's agricultural heart. Battambang is a few hours drive from the temples at Siem Reap and a delightful slice of real Cambodian life.

    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • ©Photo: Mark Bowyer
    • Chilled Battambang, is Cambodia's second largest city and home to some of the country's best preserved French colonial architecture.
    • Spruced up colonial buildings in downtown Battambang.
    • A colonial building a little less spruced up off the main street, Battambang.
    • Battambang's busy central market. By night a good spot for some local food.
    • For centuries, Battambang has been home to a Chinese enclave and this is their temple and community centre right by the river.
    • Chinese temple, Battambang.
    • The old Chinese men of the town gather at the community temple.
    • The eldest, in his 90s. spent time in Saigon in the 60s and spoke Vietnamese.
    • Battambang's Museum has a small collection of artefacts collected from the area's Angkorian temples.
    • Battambang Museum.
    • White Rose is probably Battambang's best known Khmer restaurant - popular with locals and travellers.
    • Khmer sour soups take a little getting used to but they're definitely worth the effort.
    • Outdoor BBQ at Battambang's central market.
    • Central Market Battambang.
    • Central Market Battambang.
    • Took a tuk tuk around town and out to the old Battambang railway station.
    • Battambang train station. Once the centre of commerce in the town, it now awaits the completion of a new line that will connect Thailand and Cambodia. The clock's been stuck on 8 for years.
    • Nothing like a good ruin - and Battambang railway yards are fantastic.
    • Battambang's ruined railway yards.
    • Battambang's ruined railway yards.
    • Battambang's ruined railway yards.
    • The Station Master's house Battambang - it'd now a private home and laundry operation.
    • Battambang is the rural heart of Cambodia so it's well worth exploring the countryside for a day. There are lush rice fields, chilly farms and some interesting Khmer ruins too. For my day in the Battambang countryside, I jumped aboard a tuk-tuk with Mr Salome. He was fantastic and informative too.
    • Battambang's rural countryside.
    • Rural Battambang.
    • Rural Battambang.
    • Sorting through the chillies. Battambang.
    • Hot chillies. Battambang.
    • Lotus lake at the base of Phnom Banan - an Angkorian temple on a mountain outside of Battambang.
    • Phnom Banan, Battambang
    • Phnom Banan, Battambang
    • From Phnom Banan we headed to Wat Sampeau with superb views across the countryside.
    • Wat Sampeau, Battambang.
    • Wat Sampeau, Battambang.
    • The Khmer Rouge used Wat Sampeau as a "killing field".
    • Khmer Rouge victims, Wat Sampeau.
    • Temple remembers Khmer Rouge victims.
    • Colonial era country rail station outside of Battambang where the now famous Bamboo train operates.
    • Old country train station, Battambang.
    • Our bamboo train driver.
    • The bamboo train rumbles along at quite a clip.
    • Originally created as a simple transport system in post Khmer Rouge Cambodia, Battambang's norries have now become a tourist attraction.
    • If a train is coming in the opposite direction, jump off and dismantle your norrie while the other passes.
    • 11th century Ek Phnom outside Battambang was deserted during my visit. That always makes for memorable temple time.
    • Ek Phnom, Battambang
    • Ek Phnom, Battambang
    • Ek Phnom, Battambang
    • Ek Phnom, Battambang
    • Ek Phnom, Battambang
    • La Villa - where I stayed in Battambang. There's a surprisingly good supply of boutique hotels.
    • La Villa, Battambang.
    • Bambu Resort, Battambang.
    • Bambu Resort, Battambang.
    Quicklink - Introduction - Battambang