The Royal Palace is not one single structure, it is a complex of buildings, and is the residence of the King of Cambodia. It is called the Preah Barom Reachea Vaeng Chaktomukh. It has had royal presence since1866, when it was built. In the mid 1800s, King Norodom relocated the royal capital from Oudong to Phnom Penh. The Royal Palace situated on the western bank of four divisions of the Mekong River and faces the east. The Silver Pagoda occupies the north side, while the Khemarin Palace is on the southwest and the central compound has the Throne Hall. Many buildings have been built, dismantled and built all over again till as late as the 1960s.

The royal officials once carried out their duties in the Throne Hall. Now it is used for religious and royal ceremonies like coronations and royal weddings. It is also used as a meeting place for the King’s guests. The Throne Hall is cross-shaped with three spires and the fourth is a white, four faced head of Brahma, the deity. A Royal Throne and busts of former Cambodian Kings are on display in this hall. The Silver Pagoda complex houses national treasures like silver and jeweled Buddha statues. The ‘Emerald Buddha’ of Cambodia and a life sized Maitreya Buddha encrusted with 9584 diamonds dressed in royal clothes is also kept here. King Sisowath commissioned this Buddha statue to be made. During his reign, the Silver Pagoda was inlaid with 5000 silver tiles, giving its current name.

The Khmerin Palace is the residence of the Khmer King and is on the right side of the Throne Hall, separated by a small wall. It is topped with a single spired prong. The Moonlight Pavilion, or the Chan Chhaya Pavilion, is an open-air pavilion, which is used for Khmer classical dances, and can be seen from outside. It has a balcony, which was formerly used as a platform to view marching parades.

Visiting Cambodia is always a pleasure, as the country offers a lot of scenic beauty and historic sites for the tourist. Enjoy everything Cambodia has to offer by staying a few days at a Phnom Penh hotel and taking the time to visit every place at leisure. For the utmost in Cambodia luxury, staying at a luxury hotel in Phnom Penh is highly recommended.