Battambang (also called Bat Dambong which means the disappearing stick) is the second largest city in Cambodia with a rich colonial history. It had more than 500,000 inhabitants in 1962.
Because of its proximity with Thailand, Battambang had a tumultuous history. It was annexed by Thailand in 1795 until it was transferred to French Indochina e in 1907. But it was not always peaceful, it was in the middle of the French-Thai war in 1940-1941, Thailand finally ceded back in 1946.
Because of the quality of its soil, Battambang province is the rice bowl of cambodia. The city center counts about 800 colonial building spread around the central market called Psa Nat 0r Psah Nath, west of the Sangkar river. It was built by the same French architects who did the central market in Phnom Penh and Saigon following the art deco style. some old pagoda with Thai influence. They are many shop houses along streets number 1 and 1.5 although many now are defaced because of shops. There is even a 150 years old Chinese active temple.
A photowalk in Battambang city center will give you plenty of photo opportunities of you like architecture and street photography. The back alleys and the yellow wall will remind of Hoi An or the Cholon district of Saigon.
New Khmer Architecture building (Sangkum Reastr Niyum)
Post French period (Sangkum Reastr Niyum).
Pagoda damrey sor and wat pipetharam
Wat pipetharam psa nath
Meatl
Shophouses
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