Phnom Chiso is a historical site located in Sla village, Rovieng commune, Samrong district, about 62 kilometers south of Phnom Penh or 27 kiloometers north of Takeo provincial town. To reach the site, take National Road 2 to Bati district and Neang Kmoa temple. Turn right at the sign for the site and head down the dirt trial for 5 more kilometers. Phnom Chiso is 130-meter-high Mountain.
Phnom Chiso Temple was built in the early 11th century by King Suryavarman I (AD 1002-1050), who practiced Brahmanism. Constructed of sandstone and other stones, it is 60 meters long and 50 meters wide and sits atop a mountain. The temple is surrounded by two galleries. The first gallery, is in the middle, where there is the main worship place with two doors and a wooden statue. There are beautiful sculptures on the lintel and the pillars.
Phnom Chiso Pagoda was built in 1917, destroyed by war during the 1970s and rebuilt in 1979. Behind it is a hall called Thammasaphea, kot and a worship place. There is an ancient water tank made of concrete.
People usually climb the staircase on the west side of thee mountain, which has 408 steps. Another set of stairs in front of the temple links the temple to Sen Chhmos temple, Sen Phouvang temple and Tonle Om, a lake considered sacred by Brahmans and used for washing away sins. A large rock yard nearly about 100 meters ling and 80 meters was once the site of several other temples, but only parts of these temples remain standing.
In addition, there is a mountain cave, Vimean Chan, located about 150 meterrs south of the temple. It is a quiet place for Brahmans or ascetics to meditate. During the Americans’ war with Vietnam, the site was bombed, dislodging several large rocks that block the entrance to the cave today.
Hun Sen Phnom Chiso Agriicultural and Tourist site is located in Samrong, Bati and Prey Kabas districts. It includes a 513-hectare paddy rice field of dry rice, a 1,386-hectare field of wet rice and three water basins-Thnos Ta Kong, Tuol Lork and Sen Pea Ream.
Phnom Chiso is very popular with visitors, especially during festivals, when it is very crowded. The top of the mountain affords visitors a panoramic view of the Takeo province rice paddies stretching for kilometers.