Wat Phnom

The Wat Phnom is a Buddhist temple found on a grassy hilltop in Phnom Penh. The history of the Wat Phnom dates back to the 14th century when a woman named Pehn supposedly found sacred Buddhist items in a nearby river. She then placed on top of a hill, which is the current location of the Wat. Later on, a temple was built so that the relics can be housed there. The name of the city in which the Wat Phnom is located is called Phnom Pehn and it means "Pehn's hill". Naga snakes, a bell shaped chedi and other standard southeast Asian wat decorations are found in this temple. Visitors are also given the chance to release a caged bird by salesmen near the temple to earn them good luck.