Atop Phnom Svay, in a shady plateau near the peak of the mountain lies an image of the Buddha, closing his eyes as he enters enlightenment.
The atmosphere is serene and the location is convenient, along the road towards the waterfalls, so its almost a mandatory stop on any day trip heading east from town. If you visit on the way back from your outing you can climb to the top of the hill where there is a sunset viewpoint that overlooks most of the town. Wat Rahtanharahm, whose monks tend to the Buddha image atop the hill, is located near the base of the hill.
Getting There
The temple and Buddha image are located about one mile east of the Ban Lung Roundabout, along Route 78; look to your right for the Buddhist temple (Wat Phnom Svay or Wat Rahtanharahm) at the base of the hill and the dirt path that leads up the hill past the Wat to the right. You can get here on your own with a bicycle or rental motorbike (though the hill is a bit steep for a cheap bike) or you can visit the temple with a motodop taxi.
Need to Know
- What is It?: A shady hilltop temple with a reclining Buddha image and a sunset viewpoint.
- When to Go: Anytime, though sunset is quite nice from the hilltop viewpoint.
- Nearest Town: Ban Lung, Ratanakiri. Ban Lung is about 3-4 hours east of Stung Treng. The bus ride from Phnom Penh to Ban Lung goes via Stung Treng and takes around 12 hours.
- Don’t Miss: Sunset from the hilltop viewpoint.
- Opening hours: n/a
- Entrance fees: none