Wat Sampov Pram is widely known as a monastery that is situated on the top of the Bokor Mountain, a very iconic mountain range in Cambodia. The temple was previously established by the Majesty King of Cambodia that ruled out the country in the 1920s. Every year, both domestic and international tourists visit here to pray for luck and blessings because they consider Wat Sampov Pram as one of the most sacred spiritual Buddhism places in Cambodia. Another striking feature of the temple that grasps tourists’ attention is Wat Sampov Pram is the highest Buddha pagodas in Cambodia.
History
The name of Wat Sampov Pram generally means “the Temple of the Five Boats’’. We can understand this point easily with the appearance of a block of five large and flat rock formations located inside the temple, whose shape conveys the images of five sailing boats. The locals often link the origin of Wat Sampov Pram with the myth of Preah Thong and Neang Neak. The story began with prince Preah Thong, who does not have support and faith from his father king. In contrast, the king favors his brother much more than him and force him to leave everything to his brother. As a response to the unfair decision of his father, Preah Thong chose to leave his country and go traveling around the world. One day, when walking on the beach, he saw a couple of girls playing. He instantly fell in love with the beauty of Aquarium princess Negani. Then, they started to love each other. When Preah Thong wanted to meet her father with an aim to get his permission to marry Negani, the Dragon King agreed with his daughter’s choice and let them get married. After that, since Preah Thong wanted to leave the ocean and build his own kingdom, the King wished them luck and gave them five giant boats filled with jewelry and servants. The boats finally landed at the location of Wat Sampov Pram. Preah Thong considered the new location as his destiny and then decided to establish his won kingdom here.
What to see
The first thing that will definitely keep you hooked when you join a trip to discover Wat Sampov Pram is the beauty of true Cambodian nature. The natural glamour around the temple is a perfect combination of nature and spirituality. You can take advantage of the incredibly wonderful panoramic sights around the temple to make out-of-this-world pictures yourself. Wat Sampov Pram offers every tourist not only marvelous natural scenery such as crystal-clear sea and lush green jungle but also amazing relics including exquisitely carved statues and golden bas-reliefs. Wat Sampov Pram is still operational by monks, so sometimes you could see them meditating around the temple. It will be a good idea to hire a tour guide to explain the historic significance of the buildings.
