Information
Landmark: Silver PagodaCity: Phnom Penh
Country: Cambodia
Continent: Asia
Silver Pagoda, Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Asia
Overview
The Silver Pagoda, or Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot, stands as one of Cambodia’s most treasured landmarks, its gleaming tiles catching the morning sun.Tucked inside Phnom Penh’s Royal Palace complex, it stands as a proud emblem of Cambodia’s Buddhist heritage and royal past, its golden spires catching the midday sun.The Silver Pagoda’s architecture mixes traditional Khmer and Buddhist styles, touched with hints of French colonial influence, like ornate shutters opening onto bright, sunlit courtyards.Its exterior is richly detailed, the tiered roof rising in classic Khmer style and gleaming with gold tiles that catch the afternoon sun.The structure rises on a high platform, and inside, the air smells faintly of polished cedar, where carved woodwork, gleaming gold trim, and sacred images fill every corner.The pagoda takes its name from its floor, laid with more than 5,000 silver tiles, each about a kilogram and cool to the touch.The silver tiles catch the light and set the floor apart, and that shimmering detail is what inspired the name “Silver Pagoda.”Most of the silver lies hidden beneath thick carpets meant to protect it, but you can still spot the cool, gleaming tiles peeking through in places.The Silver Pagoda isn’t just a stunning piece of architecture; inside, it holds a trove of sacred artifacts, from jeweled Buddhas to delicate gold-leaf scriptures.Inside the pagoda, you’ll find some of its most treasured objects-like an ancient bronze bell that still smells faintly of incense.Emerald Buddha (Preah Keo Morakot): Crafted from clear crystal, this treasured statue ranks among Cambodia’s most revered, embodying both the nation’s monarchy and the spiritual heart of its people.Tucked into a carved niche inside the pagoda, it comes out for major Buddhist ceremonies and royal gatherings.Step two comes next-like turning the page to a fresh chapter.Gold Buddha: Inside the Silver Pagoda stands a life-sized Buddha, gleaming from head to toe in solid gold.Gleaming with diamonds, the statue ranks among Cambodia’s most treasured and sacred icons, its stones catching the light like drops of water.People also call it the “Golden Buddha,” its surface gleaming like polished sunlight.Other Relics and Statues: Inside the Silver Pagoda, you’ll find treasured relics, among them Buddha statues crafted from gleaming gold, cool silver, and weathered bronze.Among the most striking statues are Buddhas captured at different moments in life-a serene child, a meditating teacher-reflecting Cambodia’s enduring bond with Buddhism.Number four.Inside the pagoda, visitors step past cool stone walls to see vivid murals and intricate carvings showing moments from Buddha’s life, along with other treasured Buddhist lessons and stories.Intricate designs cover the walls and stretch across the ceilings, their patterns drawing the eye upward and deepening the room’s quiet, spiritual feel.The Silver Pagoda, first built in the 1890s under King Norodom, has since seen layers of change-fresh gilding here, a new doorway there-as restorations and additions shaped it over time.The pagoda has stood as both a place of worship and a proud emblem of the Cambodian people’s strength and resilience, its golden spire gleaming even in the darkest years of hardship.In the 1970s, under the Khmer Rouge, the pagoda and the Royal Palace stood silent and empty as the regime worked to erase Cambodia’s cultural and religious heritage.After the Khmer Rouge fell, people worked to restore the pagoda and its treasures-polishing gilded statues, mending cracked tiles-until it once again stood as a place of significance for both the royal family and Cambodians alike.In Cambodian culture, the Silver Pagoda stands at the heart of both spiritual tradition and royal ceremony, its gleaming tiles catching the sun during sacred rituals.The site hosts major ceremonies, from Buddhist holidays marked by rows of flickering lanterns to grand royal events.For many Cambodians, the pagoda draws pilgrims, its incense-scented halls steeped in deep spiritual meaning.Many visitors come to the pagoda to immerse themselves in Cambodia’s Buddhist heritage and royal past, pausing beneath its gold-tipped roof to feel the weight of history.It’s a reminder of Cambodia’s deep roots in Buddhism and the country’s vibrant artistic and cultural heritage, from the golden glow of temple walls to the graceful curve of a sculpted lotus.The Silver Pagoda, with its gleaming floor tiles, is a top draw in Phnom Penh and welcomes visitors as part of the Royal Palace complex.Visitors can wander through its graceful arches, study the worn bronze chalice on display, and uncover the stories that shaped its history.When you visit, remember the site is sacred-treat it with respect and wear clothing that covers your shoulders and knees, like a light scarf or long skirt.Inside the pagoda, soft light spills across worn stone floors, and the hush carries a sense of both reverence and tradition, making it a must-see for anyone in Phnom Penh-especially visitors drawn to Cambodia’s royal and religious past.
