Phnom Kulen National Park

Phnom Kulen National Park
Phnom Kulen National Park
Jayavarman-Norodom Phnom Kulen National Park
IUCN category II (national park)
	Waterfall in Phnom Kulen National Park
	Phnom Kulen National Park
Location	Svay Leu District, Siem Reap Province, Cambodia
Nearest city	Siem Reap
Coordinates	13°36′22″N 104°05′45″E / 13.6062°N 104.0957°E
Area	373.76 km2 (144.31 sq mi)
Established	1993

This article contains Khmer text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Khmer script.

The Phnom Kulen National Park (Khmer: ឧទ្យានជាតិភ្នំគូលែន) is a national park in Cambodia, located in the Phnom Kulen mountain massif in Siem Reap Province. It was established in 1993 and covers 373.76 km² (144.31 sq mi). Its official name is Jayavarman-Norodom Phnom Kulen National Park (Khmer: ឧទ្យានជាតិព្រះជ័យវរ្ម័ន-នរោត្តម ភ្នំគូលែន).

During the Khmer Empire the area was known as Mahendraparvata (the mountain of Great Indra) and was the place where King Jayavarman II had himself declared chakravartin (King of Kings), an act which is considered the foundation of the empire.^[2]

Archaeological sites

Phnom Kulen National Park is located in Svay Leu District about 48 km (30 mi) from the provincial town of Siem Reap and about 25 km (16 mi) from Prasat Banteay Srey.^[3]

Waterfalls

There are two main waterfalls in Phnom Kulen (Khmer: ទឹកធ្លាក់ភ្នំគូលែន):

First waterfall: 4–5 metres (13–16 ft) tall and around 25 metres (82 ft) wide during the rainy seasons.
Second waterfall: 15–20 metres (49–66 ft) tall and around 15 metres (49 ft) wide during the rainy seasons.

The size of the waterfalls varies according to the seasons and the rain. Visiting the waterfalls is a popular activity on Phnom Kulen tours.

Archeological activities

After initial reconnaissances by French scholars, the historical relevance of Phnom Kulen was pointed out by Philippe Stern, who visited it in 1936 and described Rong Chen^[4] as the first temple-mountain.^[5]^[6] In 1973 and 1979 Jean Boulbet and Bruno Dagens published the fundamental archeological inventory and mapping of Phonm Kulen.^[7]^[8] In 2008 Archaeology & Development Foundation begun Phnom Kulen Program,^[9] an archaeological project focused even on sustainable development of local communities.

In June 2013, an archaeological team announced the discovery and mapping of the ancient city of Mahendraparvata on the slopes of Phnom Kulen. The multi-year expedition was notable for its use of Lidar technology to reveal the layout of the city from beneath jungle and earth. 30 previously unidentified temples have been discovered.^[10]

References

^ ^a ^b Protected Planet (2018). "Phnom Kulen National Park". United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Retrieved 26 Dec 2018.
^ Higham, 2001: pp. 54–59
^ "Sightseeing Koulen Mountain". Cambodian government. 2003-11-19. Archived from the original on 2008-09-09. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
^ Rong Chen on CISARK site
^ Stern, Philippe (1938). "Travaux exécutés au Phnom Kulên (15 avril-20 mai 1936)". Bulletin de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient (in French). 38: 151–174. doi:10.3406/befeo.1938.4718. ISSN 0336-1519.
^ Stern, Philippe (1938). "Le style du Kulên (décor architectural et statuaire)". Bulletin de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient (in French). 38: 111–150. doi:10.3406/befeo.1938.4717. ISSN 0336-1519.
^ Boulbet, Jean; Dagens, Bruno (1973). "Les sites archéologiques de la région du Bhnaṃ Gūlen (Phnom Kulen)". Arts Asiatiques (in French). 27: 3–130. doi:10.3406/arasi.1973.1069.
^ Boulbet, Jean (1979). Le Phnom Kulen et sa Région. Paris: École française d'Extrême-Orient.
^ website of Phnom Kulen Program
^ Murdoch, Lindsay (15 June 2013). "Lost horizons: mediaeval city uncovered". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 June 2013.

Bibliography

Rooney, Dawn F. (2005). Angkor: Cambodia's wondrous khmer temples (5th ed.). Odissey. ISBN 978-962-217-727-7.
Higham, Charles (2001). The Civilization of Angkor. Phoenix. ISBN 1-84212-584-2.

External links

page on Phnom Kulen from the official website of Kingdom of Cambodia
AngkorGuide.Net
PeaceOfAngkorWeb.com
Andy Brouwer's blog on the less-visited angkorian temples of Phnom Kulen
Andy Brouwer's blog on newest archeological activities in Phnom Kulen
website of Phnom Kulen Program and a documentary on its activities
Protected areas in Cambodia

[wdpa-1] Protected Planet (2018). "Phnom Kulen National Park". United Nations Environment World Conservation Monitoring Centre. Retrieved 26 Dec 2018.

[2] Higham, 2001: pp. 54–59

[camgov-3] "Sightseeing Koulen Mountain". Cambodian government. 2003-11-19. Archived from the original on 2008-09-09. Retrieved 2009-09-16.

[4] Rong Chen on CISARK site

[5] Stern, Philippe (1938). "Travaux exécutés au Phnom Kulên (15 avril-20 mai 1936)". Bulletin de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient (in French). 38: 151–174. doi:10.3406/befeo.1938.4718. ISSN 0336-1519.

[6] Stern, Philippe (1938). "Le style du Kulên (décor architectural et statuaire)". Bulletin de l'École Française d'Extrême-Orient (in French). 38: 111–150. doi:10.3406/befeo.1938.4717. ISSN 0336-1519.

[7] Boulbet, Jean; Dagens, Bruno (1973). "Les sites archéologiques de la région du Bhnaṃ Gūlen (Phnom Kulen)". Arts Asiatiques (in French). 27: 3–130. doi:10.3406/arasi.1973.1069.

[8] Boulbet, Jean (1979). Le Phnom Kulen et sa Région. Paris: École française d'Extrême-Orient.

[9] website of Phnom Kulen Program

[Herald-10] Murdoch, Lindsay (15 June 2013). "Lost horizons: mediaeval city uncovered". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 15 June 2013.

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v t e Protected areas of Cambodia
National Parks	Botum Sakor National Park Central Cardamom Mountains National Park Hun Sen Russei Trep National Park Kep National Park Kirirom National Park Koh Rong Marine National Park O'Yadav National Park Phnom Kulen National Park Preah Monivong National Park Ream National Park Southern Cardamom National Park Vensai Siempang National Park Virachey National Park
Wildlife Sanctuaries	Beng Per Wildlife Sanctuary Chhaeb Wildlife Sanctuary Keo Seima Wildlife Sanctuary Kulen Promtep Wildlife Sanctuary Lomphat Wildlife Sanctuary Peam Krasop Wildlife Sanctuary Phnom Aural Wildlife Sanctuary Phnom Nam Lyr Wildlife Sanctuary Phnom Prich Wildlife Sanctuary Phnom Sankos Wildlife Sanctuary Phnom Thnout-Phnom Pok Wildlife Sanctuary Preah Roka Wildlife Sanctuary Prek Prasab Wildlife Sanctuary Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary Sambor Wildlife Sanctuary Sanka Rokhavan Wildlife Sanctuary Siem Pang Wildlife Sanctuary Sre Pok Wildlife Sanctuary Stung Sen Wildlife Sanctuary Tatai Wildlife Sanctuary
Protected Landscapes	An Long Pring Ang Trapeng Thmor Angkor Banteay Chhmar Boeng Lomkod Boeng Prektub Boeung Prek Lpov North Tonle Sap Phnom Krang Dey Meas Prasat Bakan (Kampong Svay) Preah Vihear Roneam Daun Sam Sambor Prey Kok Temple Yak Oum-Yakara
Multiple Use Areas	Boeng Chhmar Multiple Use Area Boeng Yeak Laom Multiple Use Area Dong Peng Multiple Use Area Kbal Chay Multiple Use Area Phnom Neang Kong Rey Multiple Use Area Prek Toal Multiple Use Area Punchearkrek Multiple Use Area Samlaut Multiple Use Area Sorsor Sdam Sat Tor Multiple Use Area Stung Sen Multiple Use Area Tonle Sap Multiple Use Area
Natural Heritage Sites	Phnom Tbeng Natural Heritage Park Phnom Yat Natural Heritage Park
Other	Boeng Tonle Chhmar Tonlé Sap Biosphere Reserve Koh Kapik Prek Toal Stung Treng Ramsar Koh Kae Protected Resort
Former protected areas	Roneam Daun Sam Wildlife Sanctuary Snoul Wildlife Sanctuary