# Battambang province

Battambang (Khmer: បាត់ដំបង, Bătdâmbâng, lit. 'The 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. In land area, Battambang is the fifth largest province of Cambodia. Battambang is one of the provinces included in the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. 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

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

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.
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
### Annexed to Siam (1795-1907)

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

### Returned to Cambodia by France (1907-1941)

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

### Recaptured by Siam during Japanese Occupation (1941-1946)

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

### Returned to Cambodia and independent from France

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

### Khmer Rouge (1975-1979)

Governors of Battambong Province :
| No. | Name | Period | Notes |
| 1 | Rous Nhim (រស់ ញឹម) | 1975-1978 | |
| 2 | Ta Mok (តា ម៉ុក) | 1978-1979 | |

### People’s Republic of Kampuchea

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

### Kingdom of Cambodia

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

## Administrative divisions

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) | 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 | 8 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

Religion in Battambang (2019 census)
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
### Wat Ek Phnom

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".

### Wat Banan

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.

### National Bank Colonial Building
## Transportation

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

* Vann Nath - a Cambodian painter, artist, writer, and human rights activist.
* Chath Piersath - artist.
* Pen Ran - musician.
* Keo Rumchong - Cambodian Kun Khmer kickboxer
* Ros Serey Sothea - musician.
* Chhut Serey Vannthong - Cambodian Kun Khmer kickboxer