- Area: Pailin Province > Krong Pailin > Sangkat Pailin
- | Type: Ancient Remains & Temples
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.
Get the Ultimate Passport to Exploring Siem Reap & the Temples of Angkor and beyond
Now in its third edition, Essential Siem Reap is the Ultimate Passport to Siem Reap & Ancient Angkor. This year, there are two editions, one focused on the short-term visitor (a few days to a week) and an expanded edition for those who want to go beyond the typical tour circuits and explore so much more that the region offers – Read More.
Essential Siem Reap – Explorer Edition 2026
Written for history explorers, culture seekers, and long-stay adventurers alike. It includes everything in Essential Siem Reap, plus expanded details on history, ancient art, architecture, all the remote temple highlights found in the outer districts, and more.
Essential Siem Reap – City & Temples 2026
Designed especially for short-term visitors, packed with local info and deeper insight, this guide puts you on the fast track to ticking off the city’s highlights & attractions, and local foods, with comprehensive info on the must-see temples of ancient Angkor.
Map
Site Info
- Site Name: Wat Phnom Yat Khmer Name: វត្តភ្នំយ៉ាត
- Reference ID: HA7761 | Last Update: January 21st, 2024
- Tags/Group: T21, Temples, Wat
- Location: Pailin Province > Krong Pailin > Sangkat Pailin
