Phnom Sampeu, A breathtaking spectacle of history and nature

Nature Cave, National Road 57, Sampov Loun, Battambang, 053, Cambodia

There is a group of temples on the mountaintop

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Introduction

Shapou Mountain, also known as Phnom Sampeou, is a famous limestone hill located 12 kilometers southwest of Battambang. Phnom means "mountain" in Khmer, and Sampeou means "ship". There is a group of temples on the top of the mountain, and the entrance fee is $3. During the climb, there may be some mischievous monkeys, and visitors can choose to walk along the stairs or the cement road next to the small restaurant. Halfway up the mountain, there are two field cannons left behind by the government army, one with Russian writing and the other with German. These cannons were pointed towards Crocodile Mountain (Phnom Krapeu) to the west, which was a stronghold of the Khmer Rouge. At the halfway point of the mountain road, there is a small path leading to the Killing Caves of Phnom Sampeau, which has become a place for people to pay tribute to the victims of the Khmer Rouge. Inside the cave, there is a golden reclining Buddha, and next to it is a glass memorial containing the remains of the Khmer Rouge victims, who were thrown into the cave after being killed. There is also an old memorial next to the starting point of the stairs, filled with human bones and rusted, encased in a cage made of wire mesh and nylon thread. At the foot of the mountain, preparations are being made to carve a 30-meter-tall Buddha statue on the cliff. Currently, only the Buddha's head has been carved, but due to lack of funds, the completion of the entire statue is still pending.