Just outside of Kampong Cham are a pair of twin hills named Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei (Man and Woman Hills), which feature Buddhist temples and panoramic views.
There is a 308-stair walkway leading to the top of Phnom Srei, the higher of the two peaks, from where you can see the summit of Phnom Pros, which is accessible by a dirt trail.
According to legend, men and women from a nearby village had a dispute over which sex should be required to propose marriage. To settle the issue, each group would build a hill and the team with the taller one after a day of labor would be victorious. During the night, the women tricked the men into believing they had given up; the men, believing they won, proceeded to get drunk and pass out, after which time the women continued building throughout the night and won the competition.
The two mountains and the temples at the summit are the main attractions, although there are also killing fields located between the two hills, if you are interested in this grim facet of Cambodian history. The Kampong Cham killing fields are one of Cambodia’s numerous mass grave sites from the Khmer Rouge era. Located in between Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei, the fields can be visited along with local guides who can explain some of the history of the area.
Getting There
The two hills and killing fields are around 7 kilometers from Kampong Cham, west on National Road 7 and then north on Route 78. There are various transport options available for arriving at Phnom Pros and Phnom Srei including taxi, bus, and motorbike. From Phnom Penh you can either take a bus or taxi to Kampong Cham.
Need to Know
- What is it? Mountains featuring Buddhist temples and panoramic views, including nearby Killing Fields.
- When to go? All year round although the dry season from December to March is best.
- Nearest town: Kampong Cham is 7km to the east on National Road 7.
- Don’t miss: Visiting the various temples, enjoying the mountain treks, checking out the killing fields.
- Trivia: Phnom Pros translates to ‘male hill’ and Phnom Srei to ‘female hill’.