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Battambang province

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Battambang
បាត់ដំបង
Province
Battambang Province
ខេត្តបាត់ដំបង
Image
Image
Image
Image
From top: Phnom Sampov, Wat Banan, Wat Sangkae, Kamping Puoy Lake
Official seal of Battambang
Seal
Map of Cambodia highlighting Battambang province
Map of Cambodia highlighting Battambang province
CountryImage Cambodia
Provincial status6 December 1907
CapitalBattambang
Subdivisions1 municipality; 13 districts
Government
 • GovernorSok Lou (CPP)
 • National Assembly
8 / 125
Area
 • Total
11,702 km2 (4,518 sq mi)
 • Rank5th
Population
 (2024)[1]
 • Total
Increase 1,132,017
 • Rank4th
 • Density93/km2 (240/sq mi)
  • Rank16th
Time zoneUTC+07:00 (ICT)
ISO 3166 codeKH-2
Websitewww.battambang.gov.kh
Battambang Province
Khmer name
Khmerបាត់ដំបង
UNGEGN: Khétt Bătdâmbâng
ALA-LC: Khett Pâtṭaṃpang
IPA: [kʰaet ɓatɗɑmɓɑːŋ]

Battambang (Khmer: បាត់ដំបង, Bătdâmbâng [ɓatɗɑmɓɑːŋ]; lit. 'lost stick') 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.[1] In land area, Battambang is the fifth largest province of Cambodia. Battambang is one of the provinces included in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve.[2] 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

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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

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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.[citation needed]

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

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Annexed to Siam (1795-1907)

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Governors of Battambong
No.NamePeriodNotes
1Chaophraya Aphaiphubet (Baen)
ចៅពញាអភ័យធីបេស បែន		1794-1810Originator of the House of Abhaiwongse
2Phraya Aphaiphubet (Paen)
ពញាអភ័យធីបេស ប៉ែន		1810-1814
3Phraya Aphaiphubet (Ros)
ពញាអភ័យធីបេស រស់		1814-1827
4Phraya Aphaiphubet (Ched)1827-1835
5Neak Ang Em
អង្គឥម		1835-1839
-Phra Phithakbodin (Som)1847-1848Acting governor
6Phraya Aphaiphubet (Norng)
ពញាអភ័យធីបេស នង		1848-1860
7Chaophraya Kathathonthoranin (Yia Abhaiwongse)
ចៅពញាគធាធរធរនិន្ទ្រ យារ (ញ៉ុញ)		1860-1892
8Chaophraya Aphaiphubet (Chum Abhaiwongse)
ចៅពញាអភ័យភូបេស ឈុំ		1892-1907Elevated to the governors of Monthon Burapha 1903-1907
Governors of Monthon Burapha
No.NamePeriodNotes
1Phraya Maha Ammatyathibodi (Run Sripen)1891–1893
2Phraya Sakdaphidetworarit (Dan Amaranonda)1893–1903
3Chaophraya Aphaiphubet (Chum Abhaiwongse)1903-1907also the governor of Battambong Province

Returned to Cambodia by France (1907-1941)

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Governors of Battambong
No.NamePeriodNotes
1Aem Arun (អែម អរុណ)1907-1922
2Chea (ជា)1922-1927
3Noun (នួន)1927-1934
4Chong Toun (ចុង ទួន)1934-1939
5Meas Nal (មាស ណាល់)1939-1941

Recaptured by Siam during Japanese Occupation (1941-1946)

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Governors of Phra Tabong Province
No.NamePeriodNotes
1Col.Luang Ranpatiwet (Wek Suwannakon)1941[3]
2Mom Dvivongs Thavalyasakdi (M.R.Chalermlap Dvivongs)19 Nov. 1941[4]-1943Moved to be the chief advisor of the governors of Sirat Malai
3?1943-1946

Returned to Cambodia and independent from France

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Governors of Battambong Province
No.NamePeriodNotes
1Lon Nol (លន់ នល់)1946-19471st term
2Sin Chhoy (ស៊ីន ឆយ)1947-1948
-Lon Nol (លន់ នល់)1948-19492nd term
3Tep Phan (ទេព ផន)1949-19511st term
4Pho Proeung (ផូ ព្រឿង)1951-1954
5Chay Thol (ចាយ ធុល)1954-1956
-Tep Phan (ទេព ផន)1956-19592nd term
6Tim Ngoun (ទឹម ងួន)1959-19661st term
7Yem Moniroth (យ៉ែម មុនីរ័ត្ន)1966-1967
8In Tam (អ៊ិន តាំ)1967-1968
-Tim Ngoun (ទឹម ងួន)April–October 19682nd term
9Sek Somoeut (សេក សំអៀត)1968-19741st term
10Sar Hor (សារ ហោ)1974-January 1975
-Sek Somoeut (សេក សំអៀត)January -April 19752nd term

Khmer Rouge (1975-1979)

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Governors of Battambong Province
No.NamePeriodNotes
1Rous Nhim (រស់ ញឹម)1975-1978
2Ta Mok (តា ម៉ុក)1978-1979

People’s Republic of Kampuchea

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Governors of Battambong Province
No.NamePeriodNotes
1Keo Thy (កែវ ធី)1979-1980
2Lay Samon (ឡាយ សាម៉ុន)1980-1982
3Sum Sat (ស៊ុំ សាត)1982-1984
4Ke Kim Yan (កែ គឹមយ៉ាន)1984-1986
5Sok Saran (សុក សារ៉ាន់)1986-1991

Kingdom of Cambodia

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Governors of Battambong Province
No.NamePeriodNotes
1Ong Sami (អ៊ុង សាមី)1991-1999
2Nov Sam (នៅ សំ)1999-2001
3Brach Chan (ប្រាជ្ញ ចន្ទ)2001-2014
4Chan Sophal (ច័ន្ទ សុផល)2014-2017
5Ngoun Ratanak (ងួន រតនៈ)2017-2021
6Sok Lou (សុខ លូ)2021-incumbent

Administrative divisions

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Map of Battambang showing tree-cover loss years, with forest remaining since 2000 in green and loss years shaded yellow through purple.
Tree-cover loss year in Battambang, 2001-2024, from the Global Forest Change dataset.

Battambang is divided into 13 districts and one municipality which are further subdivided into 93 communes (Khmer: ឃុំ, khum), 10 quarters (Khmer: សង្កាត់) and 810 villages (Khmer: ភូមិ, phum).

ISO
code		 Name Khmer Population (2019)[1] 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

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Religion in Battambang (2019 census)[1]
  1. Buddhism (98.3%)
  2. Islam (1.40%)
  3. Christianity (0.30%)
  4. Animism and Other religions (0.00%)

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

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Image
Wat Ek Phnom

Wat Ek Phnom

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Wat Ek Phnom (Khmer: វត្តឯកភ្នំ) 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".[5]

Wat Banan

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Wat Banan (Khmer: ភ្នំបាណន់), 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

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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

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Transportation

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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

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References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "General Population Census of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2019 – Final Results" (PDF). National Institute of Statistics. Ministry of Planning. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 3 February 2021.
  2. ↑ "tsbr-ed.org". www.tsbr-ed.org. Archived from the original on 5 September 2008. Retrieved 7 April 2018.
  3. ↑ ประกาศข้าหลวงประจำจังหวัดพระตะบอง เรื่อง ตั้งคณะกรรมการป้องกันการค้ากำไรเกินควร ประจำจังหวัดพระตะบอง
  4. ↑ แจ้งความกระทรวงมหาดไทย เรื่อง แต่งตั้งข้าราชการ
  5. ↑ Wat Ek Phnom at Lonely Planet Archived March 15, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
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13°1′43″N 102°59′22″E / 13.02861°N 102.98944°E / 13.02861; 102.98944

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