Battambang is a city on the Sangkae River in northwestern Cambodia. It’s known for colonial buildings such as Sala Khaet, the former Governor’s Residence. Battambang Provincial Museum has artifacts from local Khmer temples. Nearby, PharePonleuSelpak is a circus and performing arts school for underprivileged children. North of the center are the ruins of Ek Phnom, an 11th-century pagoda with sandstone carvings.
Founded in the 11th century by the Khmer Empire, Battambang is the leading rice-producing province of the country. For nearly 100 years it was a major commercial hub and provincial capital of Siamese province of Inner Cambodia (1795-1907), though it was always populated by Khmer, with some ethnic Vietnamese, Lao, Thai and Chinese. Battambang remains the hub of Cambodia’s northwest, connecting the region with Phnom Penh and Thailand.
The city is situated on the Sangkae River, a tranquil, small body of water that winds its way picturesquely through Battambang Province. As with much of Cambodia, French Colonial architecture is a notable aspect of the city, with some of the best-preserved examples in the country. Now the government and Ministry of Culture and Fine Art are preparing documents to nominate The Old Town of Battambang in the list of UNESCO world heritage site along with The Old Town of Kampot and The Old Town of Kratie since 2017