Phnom Kulen National Park

ThePhnom Kulen National Park(Khmer:ឧទ្យានជាតិភ្នំគូលែន) is a national park inCambodia, located in thePhnom Kulenmountain massif inSiem Reap Province. It was established in 1993 and covers 373.76 km(144.31 sq mi). Its official name isJayavarman-Norodom Phnom Kulen National Park(Khmer:ឧទ្យានជាតិព្រះជ័យវរ្ម័ន-នរោត្តម ភ្នំគូលែន).
During theKhmer Empirethe area was known asMahendraparvata(the mountain of Great Indra) and was the place where KingJayavarman IIhad himself declaredchakravartin(King of Kings), an act which is considered the foundation of the empire.
Phnom Kulen National Park is located inSvay Leu Districtabout 48 kilometres (30 mi) from the provincial town ofSiem Reapand about 25 kilometres (16 mi) fromPrasat Banteay Sreyvia Charles De Gaulle Road. There are several nature features, historical places, and other sights making Kulen National Park an interesting place to visit.
Chup Preah (Khmer:ជប់ព្រះ) is a valley featuring several statues made during the 16th century.
TheKbal Speanarchaeological site, also known as  "Valley of a thousandLingas" (Khmer:លិង្គ១០០០), is located on the mountain, along the Kbal Spean River, which is a tributary ofSiem Reap River.  The site has many figures ofYoniandLingaas well as other figures carved into the rocks of the riverbed and banks which may become fully exposed in the dry season when the river dries up.  The river is shallow and small waterfalls form at the site in the wet season. The site is accessible by trekking uphill through a 1.5 kilometres (0.93 mi) jungle track from the parking site.
Terrace of Sdach Kamlung (Khmer:ព្រះលានស្តេចគំលង់) is a plainterracewith a small ruined temple made ofbricksin the middle.  The terrace was once covered withlava.
Preah Ang Thom(Khmer:ព្រះអង្គធំ) is an 8 metres (26 ft) tall statue of the recliningBuddhareachingnirvana. The statue is carved into a huge sandstone boulder. Preah Ang Thom is the sacred and worshipping god for Phnom Kulen. There are also two big trees of Cham Pa (Khmer:ដើមចំប៉ា) at nearby. Besides Preah Ang Thom, there are Chhok Ruot (Khmer:ឆ័តរួត), footprint of Preah Bat Choan Tuk (Khmer:បាតជើងព្រះបាទជាន់ទុក្ខ), Peung Chhok (Khmer:ពើងឆ័ត), Peung Ey So (Khmer:ពើងឥសូ) and Peung Ey Sey (Khmer:ពើងឥសី).
There are two mainwaterfallsin Phnom Kulen (Khmer:ទឹកធ្លាក់ភ្នំគូលែន):
The size of the waterfalls varies according to the seasons and the rain. Visiting the waterfalls is a popular activity on Phnom Kulen tours.
After initial reconnaissances by French scholars, the historical relevance of Phnom Kulen was pointed out byPhilippe Stern, who visited it in 1936 and describedRong Chenas the firsttemple-mountain.In 1973 and 1979Jean BoulbetandBruno Dagenspublished the fundamental archeological inventory and mapping of Phonm Kulen.In 2008 Archaeology & Development Foundation begun Phnom Kulen Program,an archaeological project focused even on sustainable development of local communities.
In June 2013, an archaeological team announced the discovery and mapping of the ancient city ofMahendraparvataon the slopes of Phnom Kulen. The multi-year expedition was notable for its use ofLidartechnology to reveal the layout of the city from beneath jungle and earth. 30 previously unidentified temples have been discovered.