KRATIE HOME OF FRESHWATER
DOLPHINS
Is
a sleepy Mekong River town situated on the east bank of the mighty
river? It’s very picturesque with sandbars and big islands out
front and bends in the river. Unlike in many towns around Cambodia,
the war years were fairly kind to the French architecture and
the roads, at least in the town itself. There are some nice-looking
homes of French and Khmer style scattered about, adding to the
pleasant feel of the place.
The rare freshwater
Irrawaddy dolphins make their home in the Mekong River, just north
of Kratie. With only around fifteen to twenty remaining, they
are worth a visit.
Whether you
are just on a trip seeing the river towns along the Mekong or
taking a full circuit trip around the east and northeast, Kratie
is a nice place to spend a night or two.
Tourist
sites:
Phnom
Sambok Resort
Is the natural and historical resort, locates at Thmor Kre Commune,
Kratie District in 11 – Km distance from the provincial town by
the National Road No 7, then turning more 500 Meters to the mountain.
Phnom Sam Bok is the cultural and main tourist resort of Kratie
province. The resort has good location and assured safety for
tourists to visit. Phnom Sam Bok has been arranged as the tourist
resort since the Sang Kum Reas Ni Yum time. The special features
of Phnom Sam Bok are:
- Closed to
the western mountain foot, there is a big pond full of Clearwater
and natural plants. The mountain has two peak, adull peak and
a pointed peak. On the mountain top, we can view the beautiful
scene especially the Mekong River.
- The mountain rich in big trees and birds.
- There is a concrete stair stretching from the mountain foot
of Sam Bok very rich in gold. The local people there called the
place at the mountain.
The legend
said that one upon the time, there was a king named Cha Krey Sara
Varman a son of Preah Bat Hathak Athi Reach Varman. After he was
on throne instead of his father, he informed officials and high
officials to find where having gold mine. The local people there
called the place ‘Kan Leng Sam Bo Meas’ means ‘a place very rich
in gold’. Long time after that, the word changed to ‘Phnom Sambok
Meas’. Then only ‘Phnom Sam Bor’ until now.
The background
of Phnom Sam Bok: At the beginning of the 15th century, there
was a monk named Neak Voan, the student who has the same teacher
to the monk, Neak Sen. Neak Sen is the teacher of crocodile, Nen
Thun and he does neditation on the mountaintop of Sam Bok. The
monk, Neak Voan has very strong ritual formulas and he is well
known to the near and far local people. The local people accompany
each other to learn ritual formulas from Neak Voan. Since that,
Phnom Sam Bok becomes the worshipping place until now.
The
100-Column Pagoda:
Located at
Sam Bor District in 36-Km distance, North of the province town
by the National Road No 7. The special features of Sar Sar –100
pagoda are:
- The 100-column
pagoda was built on the place where the Royal Palace temple of
Sam Phu Borak Capital of the Chen La time located.
- At the area,
there are four- Buddist temple facing to directions:
1- Vihear
Lao faces to the West
2- Vihear
Sar Sar-100 faces to the North
3- Vihear
Kork Keut faces to the East
4- Vihear
Kork faces to the south (this Buddhist temple has only base and
mark remain).
During the
khmer new year, the local people who live near the former Sam
Phu Bo Rak Capital usually celebrate the four-day festival by
starting at Vihear Sar Sar 100 first, then Vihear Kork and Vihear
Lao lastly.
Background
of Vihear Sar Sar-100 was built in 1860 and the size is 30 meter
x 30 meters. In the former time, at the 100th century, was thatched
by Preah Ang Chan Reachea II for dedicating to the power of Vihear
Sar Sarr-100 to maintain the soul of Preah Neang Varakak, his
daughter who swallowed by the crocodile, Nen Thun. Vihear Sar
Sar-100 is different to other temples because it face to the north.
About 100 years later, the temple was damaged by the strong lightening,
which caused 22 columns burnt down and the statues dirtied by
smoke. Because of this incident, the temple was pulled down and
rebuilt by the local people, but it had only 78 columns. Until
1978, the 100-columns pagoda has once again been renovated with
35-meter length, 18-meter width, 23-meter height and 116 columns;
also, the temple has completely been renovated, inaugurated and
Sey Ma buried on January 14, 1998
Kampy
Resort:
Is the great
natural resort where is home to Dolphins. When we travel along
the National Road No. 7 to the North about 15Km from the provincial
town, we will arrive at abridge of Prek Kam Py where we have seen
a very novel view of the Mekong River consisting of thousands
of islands full of green water plants. Usually from January to
May, there are local and international visitors, who call on the
Kam Py resort for swimming, especially during the Khmer New Year.
Kam Py resort has special features such as:
- The resort
is closed to the National Road, assured safety and has large parking
site for motorcycles and cars.- The riverbank is full of sand,
and there are many islands assuring the visit of thousands of
visitors.
- The water
is clear as mirror, has 0.5-1.30 meter depth and flows with undangerous
speed.
Kam Py resort
has not only the good natural manner, but also been provided the
good services for visitors such as the crossing bridge, floating
cottages, soft-drink shops, restaurants, emergency agency, guards
and security as well. Nowadays, the provincial tourist office
has endeavored to upgrade arranging the resort to be better and
more attractive.
OTHER
INTERESTING PLACES
- Wat
Vihear Lao:Classification
Historical Sites and BuildingsLocation
Sambour Village, Sambour Commune, Sambour DistrictAccessibility
36 km (1h:30mn) From Provincial Town
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- Wat
Vihear Kuk:Classification
Historical Sites and BuildingsLocation
Sambour Village, Sambour Commune, Sambour DistrictAccessibility
36 km (1h:30mn) From Provincial Town
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- Chruoy
Rey:Classification
Historical Sites and BuildingsLocation
Kantring Village, Kaoch Trong Commune, Kratie TownAccessibility
3 km (15mn) From Provincial Town
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- Dolphin
Habitat:Classification
Nature & Wildlife PreservesLocation
Kampee Village, Sambok Commune, Kratie DistrictAccessibility
15 km (15mn) From Provincial Town
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- Phnom
Preah:Classification
Nature & Wildlife PreservesLocation
Chrauy Thmar Leu Village, Chhloug Commune, Chhloung DistrictAccessibility
30 km (1h) From Provincial Town
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- Phnom
Sopor Kaley:Classification
Historical Sites and BuildingsLocation
Chrauy Banteay Village, Chrau Ampil Commune, Prey Prasap
DistrictAccessibility
30 km (1h) From Provincial Town
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