Wat Phnom is a large Buddhist temple in Doun Penh, Phnom Penh, Cambodia and has a total height of 46 meters with a pagoda and a stupa symbolising the name of Phnom Penh. The pagoda is named after Lady Penh. According to legend in 1372 a wealthy old lady called Penh lived on a small hill near the bank of the confluence of four rivers. One day, when it was raining, Penh went down to the port to take a bath and saw a floating Koki tree in the river and she called the village to fish it from the water. She and the villagers took a piece of wood to scrape off the mud and in the hole of the Koki tree, there were four Buddha statues made of bronze, brass and one made of marble. Another statue was in the form of Vishnu with the hands holding a staff, a chain, a snail, and a lotus flower. Penh asked the villagers to help retrieve the Koki tree and retrieve the four treasures. Later, Penh assigned the villagers to build an artificial hill and build a small wooden temple on top of the hill to house the statues. She invited monks to bless the statues and the monks named the hermitage “Wat Phnom” which is known as to this day.
Passionate Photographer …. Lost in Asia
Stuart Taylor of HighlanderImages Photography has been making images for over 40 years focusing on Asia with a documentary/photojournalistic style.
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