History lovers and a half-day escape from Phnom Penh
Phnom Oudong (Udong) is a hill about 40 km north-west of Phnom Penh that was Cambodia's royal capital until 1866. Its summit holds royal stupas with the ashes of Khmer kings, a white stupa enshrining a relic of the Buddha, and the ruins of Vihear Preah Ath Roes, reached by a staircase of more than 500 steps. Entry is free.
September 2026
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Phnom Oudong, often spelled Udong, is a long wooded ridge about 40 km north-west of Phnom Penh that served as Cambodia’s royal capital for more than two centuries, until King Norodom moved the court to Phnom Penh in 1866. Today its summit is crowned by gleaming royal stupas holding the ashes of Khmer kings, a modern stupa enshrining a relic of the Buddha, and sweeping views over rice fields and sugar palms. It is one of the most rewarding day trips from the capital.
After the Thai sack of the earlier capital at Longvek, the Khmer court moved to Oudong in the early 17th century. The name means “the victorious”, and for over 200 years kings were crowned, ruled and cremated here. In 1866 King Norodom, under growing French influence, moved the capital to Phnom Penh, but Oudong remained a sacred royal site, and the ashes of several kings were enshrined on its hilltop.
The mountain suffered badly in the 1970s. Heavy fighting took place here during the civil war, and the Khmer Rouge damaged many of its shrines. The great Vihear Preah Ath Roes and its giant Buddha were blown up in 1977. Much has since been restored, and in 2002 a relic of the Buddha was moved here from Phnom Penh to a new stupa on the ridge.
The gleaming white stupa built in 2002 to house a relic of the Buddha, surrounded by many Buddha images. The most visited shrine on the mountain.
The stupa associated with the king who founded the capital at Oudong, one of the oldest monuments on the ridge.
An elaborate stupa for King Ang Duong, one of Cambodia’s most respected 19th-century kings and father of King Norodom.
The stupa of King Sisowath Monivong, decorated with faces looking out in four directions, in the style of the towers of the Bayon.
The “temple of the 18-cubit Buddha”, destroyed in 1977. The damaged Buddha and walls have been partly rebuilt, a moving reminder of the country’s recent past.
From the ridge, the plains stretch in every direction: rice fields, sugar palms, villages and, on clear days, the Tonle Sap river.
At the foot of the hill, a small memorial holds remains from the Khmer Rouge era. Please visit it quietly and respectfully.
There are several staircases, and the main one, lined with naga balustrades, has more than 500 steps. The climb is steady rather than hard; allow 20 to 30 minutes with stops. A good loop is:
| Opening hours | Reported as daily, around 7:00 am to 5:30 pm; confirm locally |
|---|---|
| Entry | Free; donations at the shrines are welcome. A small parking fee may apply |
| Location | Oudong, Kandal province, about 40 km north-west of Phnom Penh off National Road 5 |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 hours on site; half a day from Phnom Penh |
| Climb | 500+ steps on the main staircase; a road also runs part of the way up |
| Food | Stalls and hammock huts with simple Khmer food at the foot of the hill |
| Best time | Early morning or late afternoon; November to March is the most comfortable season |
Oudong is an easy half-day trip from Phnom Penh by private car or tuk-tuk, taking about an hour to an hour and a half each way along National Road 5, depending on traffic. Agree the price and waiting time with your driver before you leave. It combines well with a visit to Silk Island (Koh Dach) on the way back, or a stop at a riverside village along the Tonle Sap.
In Phnom Penh itself, pair it with the Royal Palace and Silver Pagoda and the National Museum to follow the story of the Khmer monarchy from Oudong to the modern capital.
For more of Cambodia’s temples and royal history, see our heritage experiences.
We plan Oudong as a relaxed half day from Phnom Penh with a private driver and a guide who brings the royal stories to life. It fits easily into our Phnom Penh and Angkor discovery journey or any stay in the capital.
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