Phnom Sorsia

Phnom Sorsia
Phnom Sorsia
	White Elephant Cave, Phnom Sorsia
Highest point
Coordinates	10°33′57″N 104°17′02″E / 10.56583°N 104.28389°E / 10.56583; 104.28389
Geography
	Phnom Sorsia Location of Phnom Sorsia
Location	Kampot Province, Cambodia

Phnom Sorsia is a Buddhist hill complex in Kampot Province, southern Cambodia. It contains Buddhist cultural features approached by a staircase and a complex of karst caves. One cave Rung Damrey Saa ("White Elephant's Cave") has a stalagmite resembling the head of an elephant; another has a bat colony.^[1] The gateway to the caves is marked by a pagoda, approximately 1 kilometre (0.62 mi) from the main road.^[2]

Geography

The complex is located about 11 miles (18 km) east of Kampot. It is accessed via a dirt road which veers from the NH33; signage refers to the site as the Phnom Sorsia Resort.^[3] Phnom Sorsia, Phnom Chhnork, Kep, and Bokor National Park make up a popular day trip of the Kampot Province.^[4]

The forest-covered hill has several limestone caves. The White Elephant Cave is so named as there are many stalagmites in the limestone formations which resemble white elephants.^[3] East of Phnom Sorsia is the "Bat Cave", with a population of several thousand bats.^[1] They come out to the surface through a narrow chimney-type passage, and are hunted by bamboo-wielding local residents who swat at them while they are airborne.^[3] A concealed pool with cool water is approached through a hole. The vistas from the top of the mountain are of rice fields.

Culture

Phnom Sorsia is considered a holy hill. Steps have been carved in the slopes in a winding formation,^[5] to reach both the top of the mountain and the White Elephant Cave. Cultural features include two Buddha statues to the right of the White Elephant Cave, a garishly painted temple, as well as a stupa on top of the hill.^[3]

References

^ a b DK Travel Guides (1 June 2011). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Cambodia & Laos. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-4053-4985-7.
^ Vater, Tom (29 December 2009). Moon Cambodia. Avalon Travel. pp. 164–. ISBN 978-1-59880-214-6. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
^ a b c d Nick Ray; Greg Bloom; Daniel Robinson (1 July 2010). Cambodia 7. Lonely Planet. pp. 229–. ISBN 978-1-74179-457-1. Retrieved 1 January 2013.
^ Williams, China (3 March 2010). Southeast Asia 15. Lonely Planet. pp. 121–. ISBN 978-1-74179-233-1. Retrieved 4 January 2013.
^ Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong. Lonely Planet. 2007. p. 244. Retrieved 2 January 2013.

External links

[DK-1] DK Travel Guides (1 June 2011). DK Eyewitness Travel Guide: Cambodia & Laos. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 115. ISBN 978-1-4053-4985-7.

[Vater2009-2] Vater, Tom (29 December 2009). Moon Cambodia. Avalon Travel. pp. 164–. ISBN 978-1-59880-214-6. Retrieved 1 January 2013.

[RayBloom2010-3] Nick Ray; Greg Bloom; Daniel Robinson (1 July 2010). Cambodia 7. Lonely Planet. pp. 229–. ISBN 978-1-74179-457-1. Retrieved 1 January 2013.

[Williams2010-4] Williams, China (3 March 2010). Southeast Asia 15. Lonely Planet. pp. 121–. ISBN 978-1-74179-233-1. Retrieved 4 January 2013.

[LonelyPlanet2007-5] Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos & the Greater Mekong. Lonely Planet. 2007. p. 244. Retrieved 2 January 2013.