Battambang province

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.

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.

-Annexed to Siam (1795-1907)

1 Baen (បែន) 1795-1809

2 Pen (ប៉ែន) 1809-1816

3 Rous (រស់) 1816-1835

4 Norng (នង) 1835-?

5 Yea (Nhonh) យារ (ញ៉ុញ) ?-1894

6 Chhum (ឈុំ) 1894-1907

-Returned to Cambodia by France (1907-1941)

7 Aem Arun (អែម អរុណ) 1907-1922

8 Chea (ជា) 1922-1927

9 Noun (នួន) 1927-1934

10 Chong Toun (ចុង ទួន) 1934-1939

11 Meas Nal (មាស ណាល់) 1939-1941

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

12. Phromyothi (ព្រហ្មយោធី) 1941-1946

-Returned to Cambodia and independent from France

13 Lon Nol (លន់ នល់) 1946-1947

14 Sin Chhoy (ស៊ីន ឆយ) 1947-1948

13 Lon Nol (លន់ នល់) 1948-1949 (2nd term)

15 Tep Phan (ទេព ផន) 1949-1951

16 Pho Preung (ផូ ព្រឿង) 1951-1954

17 Chay Thol (ចាយ ធុល) 1954-1956

15 Tep Phan (ទេព ផន) 1956-1959 (2nd term)

18 Tim Ngoun (ទឹម ងួន) 1959-1966

19 Yem Monitoth (យ៉ែម មុនីរ័ត្ន) 1966-1967

20 In Tam (អ៊ិន តាំ) 1967-1968

18 Tim Ngoun (ទឹម ងួន) April-October 1968 (2nd term)

21 Sek Somoeut (សេក សំអៀត) 1968-1974

22 Sar Hor (សារ ហោ) 1974-January 1975

21 Sek Somoeut (សេក សំអៀត) January -April 1975 (2nd term)

-Khmer Rouge (1975-1979)

22 Rous Nhim (រស់ ញឹម) 1975-1978

23 Ta Mok (តាម៉ុក) 1978-1979

-Kampuchea (People’s Republic)

24 Keo Thy (កែវ ធី) 1979-1980

25 Lay Samon (ឡាយ សាម៉ុន) 1980-1982

26 Sum Sat (ស៊ុំ សាត) 1982-1984

27 Ke Kim Yan (កែ គឹមយ៉ាន) 1984-1986

28 Sok Saran (សុក សារ៉ាន់) 1986-1991

-Kingdom of Cambodia

29 Ong Sami (អ៊ុង សាមី) 1991-1999

30 Nov Sam (នៅ សំ) 1999-2001

31 Brach Chan (ប្រាជ្ញ ចន្ទ) 2001-2014

32 Chan Sophal (ច័ន្ទ សុផល) 2014-2017

33 Ngoun Ratanak (ងួន រតនៈ) 2017-2021

34 Sok Lou (សុខ លូ) 2021-incumbent

Battambang is divided into 13 districts and one municipality which are further subdivided into 92 communes (Khmer: ឃុំ, khum), 10 quarters (Khmer: សង្កាត់) and 810 villages (Khmer: ភូមិ, phum).

Local government entities within the province include the two towns and 12 subdistrict municipalities.

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.

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".^[3]

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.

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.

• Keo Rumchong - Cambodian kickboxer
• Chhut Serey Vannthong - Cambodian kickboxer

• Battambang - The Rice Bowl of Cambodia (Official Website of the Provincial Town Battambang on www.battambang-town.gov.kh) (in Khmer and English)
• Battambang Provincial Resources
• Beyond Angkor: Historical Sites in Battambang Province - Unique Graphical Interactive Maps

13°1′43″N 102°59′22″E / 13.02861°N 102.98944°E / 13.02861; 102.98944