Battambang

Recognized as the second largest city in Cambodia, Battambang features a population of over 250,000 inhabitants. One of the leading rice producing places in Cambodia, Battambang was originally founded in the 11th century by the Khmer Empire. Being a hub of northwest Cambodia connecting the entire areas of Phnom Penh and Thailand, Battambang City is sprawled along the Sangker River. French colonial architecture is a marked feature of Battambang, which during the 18th century was originally set up as a trading town. Tourists can find several budget hotels within the market located at the centre of the town. Some of the major attractions of Battambang are the Ba Set Temple, Ba Nan Temple, Prasat Snung, Wat Ek Temple, Nory, Boeng Kam Pinh Puoy Resort and Phnom Sam Pov Resort located at a short distance from downtown. Apart from these the Battambang Circus is a group of eight returning refugees who learnt about easing their stress in an artistic manner by adding music to their acts. Phnom Banan is another beautiful place displaying ruins of Angkorian era temple located on top of a mountain.