Wat Phnom Yat

Located at the southern end of Pailin city, around 70 km southwest of Battambang city, Wat Phnom Yat is located atop the small mountain of the same name. It overlooks the city and plains below with a grand stupa, pagoda, hermitages, and shrines.

What we see today was constructed in the mid to late 1900s while it seems there may have been a prior construction and several local folktales surround the foundation of the site, which is attributed to Yeay Yat of whom there is also a large statue at the northeast foothill.

For locals, it’s a very sacred place, both for Buddhist activity within the pagoda and for local ancestral worship. For visitors, it’s an easy trail up the mountain, taking the stairs otherwise you can ride a moto or drive up to the top very easily.

There’s a large statue of a standing Buddha at the lower level which then leads up to the small pagoda of Wat Phnom Yat.

Then, up the next level to the grand bronze stupa, known as Chola Moni Stupa (Khmer: ព្រះចូឡាមុនីចេតិយ) beside that is another stupa known as the Stupa of Eight Directions (Khmer: ប្រាសាទទ្វារ៨ទិស). From here, there are wonderful views out over the plains, mountains, and some over the small city of Pailin. Atop with the grand stupa is a wonderful place to be at sunset with some extraordinary views on offer.

Rodney Charles LHuillier

Living in Asia for over a decade and now residing in beautiful Siem Reap. Rodney Charles L'Huillier has spent over seven years in Cambodia and is the author of Ancient Cambodia (2024) and Essential Siem Reap (2017, 2019). Contact via [email protected] - more..