In the pre-Khmer Rouge era, the pine forests of the Kirirom National Park served as a stop off on the way to Kep for Cambodia’s wealthy elites. The cooler climate, provided those that could afford it a respite from the heat and humidity of the lowlands. At the top of a hill overlooking the pine forests of the Kirirom Plateau, King Norodom Sihanouk built a magnificent mansion where he would escape the sticky heat of Phnom Penh in the hot summer months.

In addition to this, the local hills are littered with the abandoned residences of the King’s entourage and other wealthy socialites of the post colonial era. The Khmer people’s deep rooted belief in spirits has meant that many of the houses still stand abandoned today, silently being reclaimed by the surrounding forest.

The Khmer Rouge razed the mansion to the ground, save one central chimney column and it’s foundations in the 1970’s.

Kirirom Mountain Visitor Centre

Today, the ruins of the estate serve as a small visitor centre, where visitors can walk around the ruins and view the surrounding forest from a small viewpoint.

Kirirom Visitor Centre Viewpoint

Standing on the small viewing platform at the back of the former mansion, it’s not hard to see why the location was chosen for a royal residence.

Looking out over the vast pine forest with a pristine lake in the valley below immediately conjures up images of the forests of Northern Europe. Back in times where it was difficult to traverse the world, the Kirirom Plateau must have felt like a different world.

Refreshments

Surrounding the visitor centre, there are several small restaurants offering Khmer food and cold drinks for visitors, tired from the trek to the top. There are also several souvenir shops offering local plants, and simple sculptures from the locally sourced pine wood.