Battambang

For the country subdivisions, see Battambang Municipality and Battambang province.

Battambang
បាត់ដំបង
City
From top, left to right: Townhouses, Wat Domrey Sar, Psar Nat market, Ta Dambong Kranhong statue, Buddha statue in Phnom Sampov, Battambang city hall, aerial view of Battambang, Sangkae River
Battambang is located in Cambodia
Battambang
Battambang
Location within Cambodia
Battambang is located in Asia
Battambang
Battambang
Location within Asia
Coordinates: 13°06′N 103°12′E / 13.100°N 103.200°E / 13.100; 103.200
Country Cambodia
ProvinceBattambang
MunicipalityBattambang
Settled11th century
Official1907
Government
 • TypeCity-municipality
Area
+855
 • Total293 km2 (113 sq mi)
Elevation
39 m (128 ft)
Population
 (2019)[1]
 • Total119,251
 • Rank3rd
 • Density410/km2 (1,100/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+7 (ICT)
Area code+855
Websitebattambang.gov.kh
Battambang
Khmer name
Khmerបាត់ដំបង
UNGEGN: Bătdâmbâng
ALA-LC: Pâtṭaṃpang
IPA: [ɓatɗɑmɓɑːŋ]
This article contains Khmer text. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Khmer script.

Battambang (Khmer: បាត់ដំបង, UNGEGN: Bătdâmbâng [ɓatɗɑmɓɑːŋ]) is the capital of Battambang Province and the third largest city in Cambodia.

Founded in the 11th century by the Khmer Empire, Battambang is the leading rice-producing province of the country. For nearly 100 years, it was a major commercial hub and the capital of the Siamese province of Inner Cambodia (1795–1907), though it was always populated by Khmer people, with some ethnic Vietnamese, Lao, Thai, and Chinese. Battambang remains the hub of Cambodia's northwest, connecting the region with Phnom Penh and Thailand.

The city is situated on the Sangkae River, a small body of water that winds its way through Battambang Province. As with much of Cambodia, French Colonial architecture is a notable aspect of the city, with some of the best-preserved examples in the country. On 31 October 2023, Battambang was one of 55 cities declared to join the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of gastronomy as well as crafts and folk art, design, film, literature, media arts, and music.[2] Other cities, such as Kratie, Siem Reap, and Kampot, may follow for the next cycle in 2025 onwards.[3]

  1. ^ "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. ^ Dunston, Lara (19 November 2023). "How a sleepy town in Cambodia won a place on Unsesco's culinary map". The Observer. ISSN 0029-7712. Retrieved 19 November 2023.
  3. ^ "UNESCO supported Battambang promote Creative Cities Network UCCN". unesco.org. Retrieved 19 June 2023.