An unassuming, quiet village, Bontee Dae provides a peek at pastoral Cambodian life home to dedicated to marble carving.
Many villagers have workshops beneath or in front of their homes where it is possible to respectfully watch the art of marble carving and perhaps make an offer to purchase one. Looping back towards the river road, there are proper shops set up where visitors can also see local artisans at work and purchase beautiful and inexpensive souvenirs.
Getting There
Bontee Dae, is a very small village extending east and south of Wat Bontee Dae on the eastern side of the Stung Pursat River, just north of National Road No.5. Bontee Dae can be accessed by passing through Wat Bontee Dae’s temple grounds and exiting through the temple’s eastern gate, heading south along the small roads through the village.
Pursat is best reached by bus or private car from Battambang or Kampong Chhnang/Phnom Penh, while traveling between the two destinations.
Need to Know
- What is It?: A very small marble carving village
- When to Go: Best visited during the dry season months (November-May) when road conditions are best.
- Nearest Town: Phnom Penh is located 115 miles/187km southeast on National Highway 5, while Batdambang is 65 miles / 104km northwest of Pursat. Visitors may fly into Phnom Penh, which serves domestic and international airlines, and those traveling from Thailand to Phnom Penh frequently stop in Batdambang after crossing the Thai border.
- Don’t Miss: Purchasing a souvenir from the artisans who created it