Phnom Penh, Silver Pagoda

The Silver Pagoda (Khmer: Vat Preah Keo Morakot, វត្តព្រះកែវមរកត), officially named Preah Vihear Preah Keo Morakot, is a royal temple located on the southern side of the Royal Palace complex in Phnom Penh. Commonly known as Wat Preah Keo, it houses many national treasures, including golden and gemstone Buddha statues.
Among its masterpieces are:

A Baccarat crystal Buddha, dating from the 19th century, often referred to as Cambodia’s "Emerald Buddha."
A life-sized Maitreya Buddha, encrusted with 9,584 diamonds and adorned with royal regalia, commissioned by King Sisowath (1840–1927).
During the reign of King Norodom Sihanouk, before the Khmer Rouge era, the pagoda’s floor was paved with over 5,000 solid silver tiles (each weighing one kilogram), some of which remain visible near the entrance. The exterior façade was also renovated with Italian marble.
The Royal Palace, a masterpiece of traditional Khmer architecture blended with European influences, is partially open to visitors: while the King’s Private Chamber remains closed, visitors can explore the central complex (Throne Hall, Chan Chhaya Pavilion) and, most notably, the Silver Pagoda. Inside, alongside the famous Buddhas, visitors can admire mural frescoes depicting the Reamker (the Khmer version of the Ramayana), restored by Polish experts.

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