Wat Ounalom: The Heart of Cambodian Buddhism

Wat Ounalom is one of the five authentic pagodas of Phnom Penh. This temple is the epicenter of Cambodian Buddhism. If you believe in spirituality, please do visit Wat Ounalom for getting deep insights about the spirituality, history as well as philosophy of Buddhism. It is the patriarch of the Mahanikai School of Buddhism, and the top Buddhist monk of Cambodia resides there.

It is located about 250 meters (820.2 feet) north of the National Museum, facing the Tonle Sap Lake. Wat Ounalom attracts a massive footfall of tourists each year. Phnom Penh is a favorite destination among travelers because of the wide array of pagodas, monuments, museums, and so on. Wat Ounalom contributes a lot in attracting travelers to Phnom Penh.

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The most significant attribute about Wat Ounalom is the hair from Lord Buddha's eyebrow. "Ounalom" means eyebrow. The monks have conserved the hair in a building behind the Ounalom Pagoda. Visitors also love the pleasant and tranquil ambiance within the Pagoda complex.

History of Wat Ounalom

Wat Ounalom, meaning the “eyebrow temple,” came into existence in the year 1443. The purpose of this construction was to enshrine an Ounalom of Lord Buddha. About 500 Buddhist monks used to stay here. The Wat used to be the Buddhist Institutes' library with a collection of over 30,000 titles. Pol Pot sabotaged Wat's precious religious and cultural artifacts and collection of books. Due to the Khmer Rouge regime, many Buddhist monks died too. It was indeed a miracle that helped survive the eyebrow of Lord Buddha. This holy eyebrow is the focal point of the pagoda. After the Vietnamese invasion, the structure came back to life gradually.

Presently, Wat Ounalom is located in a larger area of Sihanouk Boulevard. The pagoda complex has about 44 buildings. The main temple is the modern recreation of a 15th Century shrine. The pagoda has three different levels. You can then take the staircase on the left, which is behind the dais. Use this staircase to reach the third floor. Wat Ounalom is an exquisite display of painting collections and cultural relics related to the life of Lord Buddha.

Major Attractions of the Wat Ounalom Pagoda

•  You must visit Chetdai. This is the building behind Wat Ounalom, where you will get to witness the holy eyebrow of Lord Buddha. There is also an inscription in the Pali language at the entrance of Chetdai.

•  There are four bronze statues of Lord Buddha in a sitting posture, which also make the place popular among the travelers. Each statue faces a cardinal direction.

•  The walls surrounding the Buddhist stupa bears several figures of Hindu Gods. You will be amazed to see the prominent figures of Lord Vishnu, Lord Yama, on a buffalo and a Garuda. It will feel like a home away from home.

•  Another attraction about Wat Ounalom is the image of Samdech Huot Tat. He was the fourth Buddhist patriarch. He was a martyr of the Pol Pot era. You can view this image at the northeast corner of the main temple, on the second floor. Buddhist followers built this statue in the year 1971. The Khmer Rouge people threw this statue in the Mekong to emphasize the downfall of Buddhism.

•  Towards the right, you can view the statue of a former patriarch of the Thummayuth sect. The royal family of Cambodia belongs to this sect. Here, in a small glass case, you can view a tiny marble Buddha. This marble Buddha is of Burmese origin. The Khmer Rouge followers broke this into pieces. Later on, the pieces were reassembled.

•  You can also enjoy a stunning view of the Mekong River from up here.

How to Reach Wat Ounalom?

If you are at Pochentong Airport, you can either hire a tuk-tuk for about USD 10 or rent a bike for about USD 8 to reach Wat Ounalom. It is 13.9km (8.6 miles)/53 minutes away from Pochentong Airport.

You can explore the entire temple complex and the major attractions in about two to three hours. This pagoda is also close to the Royal Palace of Cambodia, the National Museum and Wat Phnom. You can visit all these places within a single day.

Key Details

Below given are some specific details that will help in making your trip smooth and hassle-free. Make sure to go through them carefully. Once you keep these tips in mind and follow them carefully, you are good to go!

•  Entry fees: Entry to Wat Ounalom is absolutely free.
•  Visiting hours: 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
•  Visiting days: Open on all days
  
Pro-Tip: Wear shoulder and knee covering attires as it is a holy place for the Buddhists. Also, try to visit the pagoda during late in the afternoon or early in the morning as the weather remains pleasant at those times.

Hope the above-given details prove to be helpful for your visit to Wat Ounalom. This pagoda is one of the major tourist attractions of Phnom Penh. Do not miss the golden opportunity to witness the holy relic of Lord Buddha. Such experiences are extremely rare and happen only once in a lifetime. The Wat Ounalom pagoda is indeed an extraordinary heritage site for the Buddhists all over the world.