Which country is visa-free: Cambodia?

In this sixth installment of the Nigri Nigri Visa Free series, we will be covering Cambodia.

Located in the heart of South-East Asia, Cambodia is a country with a fascinating blend of rich cultural heritage, ancient history and breathtaking natural scenery, and Pakistani citizens do not even need a prior visa to visit.

Cambodia is world famous for the magnificent temples of Angkor Wat.

How to get to Cambodia?

Traveling to Cambodia from Pakistan is not too difficult or expensive. Several airlines can take you there from Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi, however, as there are no direct flights, these companies must stop in their country in between.

What to see in Cambodia?

Angkor Wat and Angkor Archaeological Park: These famous archaeological sites are part of the UNESCO World Heritage Sites that attract millions of tourists from all over the world every year. This complex of about four hundred acres is the largest complex of religious buildings in the world according to the Guinness Book of World Records.

Surrounded by dense trees, these temples were built for the Hindu god Vishnu during the Khmer Empire in the 12th century, but were later converted into Buddhist temples. The Cambodian flag is the only flag in the world that has an image of a building and that is Angkor Wat.

Phnom Penh: The capital Phnom Penh is a blend of traditional Khmer architecture and modern architecture. To understand Cambodia’s recent history, visit the Royal Palace, National Museum and the important but important Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and Killing Fields.

Tonlé Sap Lake: Southeast Asia’s largest freshwater lake is located in Cambodia with an area of ​​10,000 square kilometers. The lake expands dramatically during the rainy season and shrinks during the dry season.

History of Cambodia?

From the ancient Khmer Empire to the dark days of the Khmer Rouge regime, Cambodia’s history has been long, tumultuous and bloody. The Angkor period (9th to 15th centuries) was the heyday of the Khmer civilization, when its rule extended over much of Southeast Asia. The temple complex of Angkor was built during this period.

Cambodia gained independence from France in 1963. In the 20th century, Cambodia suffered the devastating Khmer Rouge dictatorship, which resulted in massive casualties and an estimated 1.5 million people were killed. Even today, there are millions of landmines that are a reminder of this country’s dark past.

Five interesting facts about Cambodia

1. Hinduism has had a significant influence in Cambodia. The name of the Angkor Wat complex also comes from Sanskrit. Angkor is derived from Nagar, which is also used in Urdu to mean city.
2. Cambodia’s name has changed frequently, and has been changed five times since 1953. The name of the country was changed after each new government and it has been called in the past by names like Kingdom of Cambodia, Khmer Republic and Kampuchea.
3. But thankfully the country has been called Cambodia for the past 30 years, otherwise imagine being a citizen there and having to change ID cards, passports and other government documents every five to ten years!
4. Floating Villages: Cambodia is known for its floating villages. Houses, schools and markets are built on these floating villages.
5. Rial and US Dollar: Cambodia’s official currency is the Cambodian Riyal, but the US dollar is also widely accepted, making it easy for tourists.
6. Cambodia is one of the few countries in the world where there is no McDonald’s. However, KFC is definitely present here but it is suffering badly. This means that people here are not very fond of fast food.

Pakistani Embassy in Cambodia

The Embassy of Pakistan is located in the capital Phnom Penh at House No. 45, Street 310, Sangkat Boeng Keng Kong.

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