Wat Ounalom Pagoda

On the banks of the river stands Phnom Penh’s oldest Buddhist foundation: Wat Ounalom. The temple is located on Sothearos Boulevard, about 200 meters north of the Royal Palace. Don’t hesitate to visit Wat Ounalom to discover its fascinating history. During your visit, you’ll have the opportunity to learn more about Buddhism, its philosophies, and its spiritual teachings.

History

Wat Ounalom was founded in the 15th century, between 1442 and 1443. Wat Ounalom considers itself the main center of Buddhism in Cambodia. The monastery is also one of the oldest in Phnom Penh and serves as the headquarters of the Maha Nikaya order. However, when the Khmer Rouge took control of the city in 1975, they destroyed the temple. It was later rebuilt and became the temporary headquarters of the Buddhist Institute. Today, you’ll see that the pagoda has been restored with great care.

Visiting Wat Ounalom

Wat Ounalom is considered the center of Buddhism in Cambodia and is also the residence of the head of the Maha Nikaya Buddhist School. The head of the country’s Buddhist fraternity lives here with many monks under his leadership.

From the outside, Wat Ounalom is an impressive building reflecting the typical architecture of Cambodia. The temple features curved roofs in red and gold colors.

In total, Wat Ounalom consists of 44 buildings. Once, 500 Buddhist monks resided at the monastery, and more than 30,000 books from the Buddhist Institute’s library were housed in the temple. This library has since been moved nearby, on Sihanouk Boulevard.

On the second floor of the main building is a statue of Huot Tat. He was the fourth patriarch of Cambodian Buddhism and was killed by Pol Pot. After his assassination, the Khmer Rouge threw his statue into the Mekong River to mark the collapse of Buddhism in the country. When the regime was overthrown, the statue was recovered from the river in 1979.

Continue your visit on the third floor by climbing a small staircase. Here, you’ll find a small marble Buddha statue. This relic was destroyed by the Khmer Rouge but was carefully restored.

At the top of Wat Ounalom, you’ll be rewarded with a magnificent view of the Mekong River. As you walk through the building, you’ll see beautiful paintings and statues depicting the life of Buddha.

The monastery’s garden is decorated with several lush shrubs and well-maintained, green lawns. You’ll feel a mystical and serene atmosphere while visiting the temple.

However, your visit won’t be complete without seeing the precious relic that makes the temple famous. To see it, you must exit the main building and head towards the small stupa at the rear of the building. Inside this stupa, you’ll find the famous eyebrow that is believed to have belonged to Buddha.

How to get there

Wat Ounalom is located in the heart of Phnom Penh, along the banks of the Tonlé Sap River. You can easily reach the temple by tuk-tuk.

From the temple, you can also quickly access the National Museum or the Royal Palace.

Hours

• Wat Ounalom can be visited every day. The temple opens early in the morning and closes in the early evening.