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Battambang province
Province of Cambodia
Province of Cambodia
| Field | Value | |
|---|---|---|
| name | Battambang | |
| native_name | បាត់ដំបង | |
| official_name | Battambang Province | |
| ខេត្តបាត់ដំបង | ||
| native_name_lang | km | |
| settlement_type | Province | |
| image_skyline | {{Photomontage | position=center |
| photo1a | Surrounding countryside at Phnom Sampeau (Battambang, Cambodia 2011).jpg | |
| photo1b | Phnom Banan temple.jpg | |
| photo2a | Wat Sangker, Battambang, Cambodia.jpg | |
| photo2b | Kamping Puy Lake Battambang.jpg | |
| spacing | 3 | |
| color_border | white | |
| size | 260 | |
| foot_montage | From top: Phnom Sampov, Wat Banan, Wat Sangkae, Kamping Puoy Lake}} | |
| image_seal | Battambang Province seal.png | |
| image_map | Cambodia_Battambang_locator_map.svg | |
| mapsize | frameless | |
| map_caption | Map of Cambodia highlighting Battambang province | |
| established_title2 | Provincial status | |
| established_date2 | 6 December 1907 | |
| subdivision_type | Country | |
| subdivision_name | Cambodia | |
| seat_type | Capital | |
| seat | Battambang | |
| parts_type | Subdivisions | |
| parts_style | ||
| parts | 1 municipality; 13 districts | |
| leader_title | Governor | |
| leader_name | Sok Lou | |
| leader_party | CPP | |
| leader_title1 | National Assembly | |
| leader_name1 | ||
| area_total_km2 | 11702 | |
| area_rank | 5th | |
| population_footnotes | ||
| population_total | 1,132,017 | |
| population_as_of | 2024 | |
| population_rank | 4th | |
| population_density_km2 | 93 | |
| population_density_rank | 16th | |
| timezone1 | ICT | |
| utc_offset1 | +07:00 | |
| iso_code | KH-2 | |
| website |
ខេត្តបាត់ដំបង
Battambang (, km , ) is a province of Cambodia in the far northwest of the country. Bordering provinces are Banteay Meanchey to the north, Pursat to the east and south, Siem Reap to the northeast, and Pailin to the west. The northern and southern extremes of the province's western boundaries form part of the international border with Thailand. In addition, Tonlé Sap forms part of the northeastern boundary between Siem Reap and Pursat. Its capital and largest city is Battambang.
It is the fifth most populous province in Cambodia. The province's fertile rice fields have led to a mostly agricultural economy giving rise to the moniker "the rice bowl of Cambodia". The province features a range of cultures as well as natural resources. Seventy five percent of the area is jungles and mountains. The area has a tropical climate.
Etymology
Battambang literally means '[to] lose [a] stick' in Khmer, referring to the local legend of Preah Bat Dambang Kranhoung. No stone inscriptions from the pre-Angkorian and Angkorian eras have yet been discovered containing mention of any contemporary villages or districts called "Battambang", but according to the document Mohachun Khmer, Srok Battambang (Battambang District) was used during the Angkor and post-Angkor eras. In Thai, the province is called Phra Tabong.
History
Battambang was annexed by both Siam and Cambodia from time to time because its location is in between both kingdoms. A majority of the local population is of Khonpor or Chong ethnicity, a part of the Austro-Asiatic family.
In 1769, Battambang and Siem Reap were conquered by King Taksin of Siam. On March 23, 1907, Battambang, with Siem Reap and Koh Kong, were annexed to French Indochina. During World War II it was annexed to Imperial Japan before being handed over to Thailand. After the war ended, it was returned to an independent Cambodia.
Governors
Annexed to Siam (1795-1907)
| No. | Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chaophraya Aphaiphubet (Baen) | ||
| ចៅពញាអភ័យធីបេស បែន | 1794-1810 | Originator of the House of Abhaiwongse | |
| 2 | Phraya Aphaiphubet (Paen) | ||
| ពញាអភ័យធីបេស ប៉ែន | 1810-1814 | ||
| 3 | Phraya Aphaiphubet (Ros) | ||
| ពញាអភ័យធីបេស រស់ | 1814-1827 | ||
| 4 | Phraya Aphaiphubet (Ched) | 1827-1835 | |
| 5 | Neak Ang Em | ||
| អង្គឥម | 1835-1839 | ||
| - | Phra Phithakbodin (Som) | 1847-1848 | Acting governor |
| 6 | Phraya Aphaiphubet (Norng) | ||
| ពញាអភ័យធីបេស នង | 1848-1860 | ||
| 7 | Chaophraya Kathathonthoranin (Yia Abhaiwongse) | ||
| ចៅពញាគធាធរធរនិន្ទ្រ យារ (ញ៉ុញ) | 1860-1892 | ||
| 8 | Chaophraya Aphaiphubet (Chum Abhaiwongse) | ||
| ចៅពញាអភ័យភូបេស ឈុំ | 1892-1907 | Elevated to the governors of Monthon Burapha 1903-1907 |
| No. | Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Phraya Maha Ammatyathibodi (Run Sripen) | 1891–1893 | |
| 2 | Phraya Sakdaphidetworarit (Dan Amaranonda) | 1893–1903 | |
| 3 | Chaophraya Aphaiphubet (Chum Abhaiwongse) | 1903-1907 | also the governor of Battambong Province |
Returned to Cambodia by France (1907-1941)
| No. | Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Aem Arun (អែម អរុណ) | 1907-1922 | |
| 2 | Chea (ជា) | 1922-1927 | |
| 3 | Noun (នួន) | 1927-1934 | |
| 4 | Chong Toun (ចុង ទួន) | 1934-1939 | |
| 5 | Meas Nal (មាស ណាល់) | 1939-1941 |
Recaptured by Siam during Japanese Occupation (1941-1946)
| No. | Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Col.Luang Ranpatiwet (Wek Suwannakon) | 1941 | |
| 2 | Mom Dvivongs Thavalyasakdi (M.R.Chalermlap Dvivongs) | 19 Nov. 1941-1943 | Moved to be the chief advisor of the governors of Sirat Malai |
| 3 | ? | 1943-1946 |
Returned to Cambodia and independent from France
| No. | Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lon Nol (លន់ នល់) | 1946-1947 | 1st term |
| 2 | Sin Chhoy (ស៊ីន ឆយ) | 1947-1948 | |
| - | Lon Nol (លន់ នល់) | 1948-1949 | 2nd term |
| 3 | Tep Phan (ទេព ផន) | 1949-1951 | 1st term |
| 4 | Pho Proeung (ផូ ព្រឿង) | 1951-1954 | |
| 5 | Chay Thol (ចាយ ធុល) | 1954-1956 | |
| - | Tep Phan (ទេព ផន) | 1956-1959 | 2nd term |
| 6 | Tim Ngoun (ទឹម ងួន) | 1959-1966 | 1st term |
| 7 | Yem Moniroth (យ៉ែម មុនីរ័ត្ន) | 1966-1967 | |
| 8 | In Tam (អ៊ិន តាំ) | 1967-1968 | |
| - | Tim Ngoun (ទឹម ងួន) | April–October 1968 | 2nd term |
| 9 | Sek Somoeut (សេក សំអៀត) | 1968-1974 | 1st term |
| 10 | Sar Hor (សារ ហោ) | 1974-January 1975 | |
| - | Sek Somoeut (សេក សំអៀត) | January -April 1975 | 2nd term |
Khmer Rouge (1975-1979)
| No. | Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rous Nhim (រស់ ញឹម) | 1975-1978 | |
| 2 | Ta Mok (តា ម៉ុក) | 1978-1979 |
People’s Republic of Kampuchea
| No. | Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Keo Thy (កែវ ធី) | 1979-1980 | |
| 2 | Lay Samon (ឡាយ សាម៉ុន) | 1980-1982 | |
| 3 | Sum Sat (ស៊ុំ សាត) | 1982-1984 | |
| 4 | Ke Kim Yan (កែ គឹមយ៉ាន) | 1984-1986 | |
| 5 | Sok Saran (សុក សារ៉ាន់) | 1986-1991 |
Kingdom of Cambodia
| No. | Name | Period | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ong Sami (អ៊ុង សាមី) | 1991-1999 | |
| 2 | Nov Sam (នៅ សំ) | 1999-2001 | |
| 3 | Brach Chan (ប្រាជ្ញ ចន្ទ) | 2001-2014 | |
| 4 | Chan Sophal (ច័ន្ទ សុផល) | 2014-2017 | |
| 5 | Ngoun Ratanak (ងួន រតនៈ) | 2017-2021 | |
| 6 | Sok Lou (សុខ លូ) | 2021-incumbent |
Administrative divisions
Battambang is divided into 13 districts and one municipality which are further subdivided into 93 communes (, khum), 10 quarters () and 810 villages (, phum).
| ISO | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| code | Name | Khmer | Population (2019) | Subdivisions |
| — Municipality — | ||||
| 02-03 | Battambang | បាត់ដំបង | 119,251 | 10 sangkat |
| — District — | ||||
| 02-01 | Banan | បាណន់ | 86,486 | 8 khum |
| 02-02 | Thma Koul | ថ្មគោល | 105,982 | 10 khum |
| 02-04 | Bavel | បវេល | 92,306 | 9 khum |
| 02-05 | Aek Phnom | ឯកភ្នំ | 71,120 | 7 khum |
| 02-06 | Moung Ruessei | មោងឫស្សី | 103,841 | 9 khum |
| 02-07 | Rotanak Mondol | រតនមណ្ឌល | 38,848 | 5 khum |
| 02-08 | Sangkae | សង្កែ | 111,118 | 10 khum |
| 02-09 | Samlout | សំឡូត | 43,715 | 7 khum |
| 02-10 | Sampov Loun | សំពៅលូន | 37,323 | 6 khum |
| 02-11 | Phnum Proek | ភ្នំព្រឹក | 44,741 | 5 khum |
| 02-12 | Kamrieng | កំរៀង | 53,076 | 6 khum |
| 02-13 | Koas Krala | គាស់ក្រឡ | 30,192 | 6 khum |
| 02-14 | Rukhak Kiri | រុក្ខគិរី | 42,329 | 5 khum |
Local government entities within the province include the two towns and 12 subdistrict municipalities.
Religion
The state religion is Theravada Buddhism. More than 98.3% of the people in Battambang are Buddhists. Chams have been practicing Islam for hundreds of years. A small percentage follow Christianity.
Historical sites
Wat Ek Phnom
Wat Ek Phnom () is a partly collapsed 11th century temple 11 km north of Battambang city. The temple measures 52 m by 49 m and is surrounded by the remains of a laterite wall and an ancient baray (reservoir). A lintel depicting the Churning of the Ocean of Milk is above the east entrance to the central temple, the upper flanks of which hold some finely carved bas-reliefs. Construction of an oversized Buddha statue began by locals next to the temple has been stopped by the government because, they say, it mars the site's historical provenance and "timeless beauty".
Wat Banan
Wat Banan (), some 25 km south of Battambang city, has been likened to a smaller version of the more imposing Angkor Wat. The 11th century Angkorian mountain ruin of Phnom Banan is one of the best preserved Angkorian Khmer temples around Battambang province. As you approach you will see the distance five tower pointing skyward, Like a small version of Angkor Wat. At the base of the mountain you can faced with a step laterite staircase flanked by nagas. After climbing the 350+ steps you are treated to a wonderfully peaceful setting.
Wat Samraong Knong
Wat Samraong Knong is an 18th century pagoda with a rich history and a tragic Well of Shadows with an ossuary with remains of some of the victims who died in the surrounding killing fields during the Cambodian genocide.
National Bank Colonial Building
Transportation
Battambang is accessible by road, and by boat via the Sangkae River. National Highway 5 runs straight through the province. Both the airport and railway line are not in use. Buses make 5-6 hour journey from Phnom Penh and the 3-4 hour journey from Siem Reap almost hourly.
Notable people
- Vann Nath - a Cambodian painter, artist, writer, and human rights activist.
- Chath Piersath - Artist.
- Pen Ran - Musician.
- Huoy Meas - Musician.
- Keo Rumchong - Cambodian Kun Khmer kickboxer
- Ros Serey Sothea - Musician.
- Chhut Serey Vannthong - Cambodian Kun Khmer kickboxer
References
References
- (26 January 2021). "General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2019 – Final Results". [[Ministry of Planning (Cambodia).
- "tsbr-ed.org".
- [https://ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/documents/1114571.pdf ประกาศข้าหลวงประจำจังหวัดพระตะบอง เรื่อง ตั้งคณะกรรมการป้องกันการค้ากำไรเกินควร ประจำจังหวัดพระตะบอง]
- [http://www.ratchakitcha.soc.go.th/DATA/PDF/2484/D/4503.PDF แจ้งความกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง แต่งตั้งข้าราชการ]
- [http://www.lonelyplanet.com/cambodia/northwestern-cambodia/wat-ek-phnom Wat Ek Phnom at Lonely Planet] {{webarchive. link. (March 15, 2010)
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