Siem Reap province

Siem Reap, officially Siemreap^[3] (Khmer: សៀមរាប [siəm riəp], lit. 'Siam's Defeated'), is a province (khaet) of Cambodia. It borders the provinces of Oddar Meanchey to the north, Preah Vihear and Kampong Thom to the east, Battambang to the south, and Banteay Meanchey to the west. Its capital and largest city is Siem Reap.

Siem Reap សៀមរាប
Province
Siem Reap Province ខេត្តសៀមរាប
From top: Angkor Wat, South Gate of Angkor Thom, Phnom Kulen waterfall, moat of Angkor
Seal
Nickname:  Gateway to Angkor
Map of Cambodia highlighting Siem Reap
Coordinates: 13°21′N 103°51′E
Country	Cambodia
Settled	802
Provincial status	23 December 1907[1]
Capital	Siem Reap
Subdivisions	2 municipalities; 11 districts
Government
• Governor	Prak Sophoan (CPP)
• National Assembly	6 / 125
Area
• Total	10,299 km2 (3,976 sq mi)
• Rank	10th
Population  (2023)[2]
• Total	1,114,616
• Rank	4th
• Density	98/km2 (250/sq mi)
• Rank	13th
Time zone	UTC+07:00 (ICT)
ISO 3166 code	KH-17
Website	www.siemreap.gov.kh

Siem Reap province is the tenth largest province in Cambodia. Having reached a population of one million in 2019, it ranks as the nation's fourth most populous province.^[2] A large portion of Siem Reap province's southern border is demarcated by the Tonle Sap and as such, it is one of the nine provinces that making up the Tonle Sap Biosphere Reserve. In modern times the province is best known as the site of Angkor and the Angkor Wat temple ruins, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is also the home of Banteay Srei, Roluos (temples), the UNESCO tentative site of Beng Mealea, and the UNESCO tentative site of Phnom Kulen National Park, home to the country's largest reclining Buddha.

Etymology

The name Siem Reap literally means 'Siam defeated' and emerged after the victory of Ang Chan I over the Siamese in 1530 at Angkor, a reminder of the centuries-old conflict between the Siamese and the Khmer. In Siam, the province and its capital were called Siemmarat (Thai: เสียมราฐ), literally meaning 'Siam's territory'.^[4]

The capital was again renamed "Siem Reap" (siam defeated) after it was rightfully returned to Cambodia in 1907 under the reign of Sisowath I (1904-1927) after military pressure on Siam by the joint forces of Cambodia and the French colonial government.

History

The province came under the control of the Thai kingdom of Siam in 1795 and was later returned to Cambodia in 1907 after the French colonist authority made a treaty with Siam for the exchange of Trat and Dan Sai for the Siamese province of Inner Cambodia which included Phra Tabong (Battambang), Siemmarat (Siem Reap), and Nakhon Wat (Angkor Wat). The Inner Cambodia province was split into Battambang and Siem Reap by the royal decree of King Sisowath the same year. This area became part of a disputed territory between France and Siam (now Thailand) which led to the Franco-Thai War in 1941, resulting in victory for Thailand and a return to Thai control (with exception of Siem Reap and Angkor Wat). The province again reverted to Cambodia in 1946, after the end of World War II with French and UN international pressure.

Religion

Religion in Siem Reap province (2019 census)^[5]

  Buddhism (99.3%)

  Christianity (0.4%)

  Islam (0.2%)

  Animism and Other religions (0.1%)

The state religion is Theravada Buddhism. More than 99.3% of the people in Siem Reap province are Buddhists. About 0.4% population of Siem Reap province follow Christianity. Islam which is mostly followed by Chams is 0.2% in the province.

Subdivisions

The province is divided into 2 municipalities and 11 districts, and further subdivided into 100 communes and 907 villages.^[6]

ISO code	Name	Khmer	Subdivisions
— Municipality —
17-10	Siem Reap	សៀមរាប	12 sangkat
	Run Ta Ek Techo Sen	រុនតាឯកតេជោសែន	2 sangkat
— District —
17-01	Angkor Chum	អង្គរជុំ	7 khum
17-02	Angkor Thom	អង្គរធំ	4 khum
17-03	Banteay Srei	បន្ទាយស្រី	5 khum
17-04	Chi Kraeng	ជីក្រែង	12 khum
17-06	Kralanh	ក្រឡាញ់	10 khum
17-07	Puok	ពួក	14 khum
17-09	Prasat Bakong	ប្រាសាទបាគង	8 khum
17-11	Soutr Nikom	សូត្រនិគម	10 khum
17-12	Srei Snam	ស្រីស្នំ	6 khum
17-13	Svay Leu	ស្វាយលើ	5 khum
17-14	Varin	វ៉ារិន	5 khum

Gallery

• 
  Phnom Kulen
• 
  Angkor Wat view from Phnom Bakheng
• 
  South gate of Angkor Thom
• 
  Bayon Temple
• 
  Banteay Srei

References

1. "History of Siem Reap". siemreap.gov.kh. Archived from the original on 18 July 2019. Retrieved 17 August 2019.
2. "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.
3. "Geographical Names of the Kingdom of Cambodia" (PDF). UNSTATS. Eighth United Nations Conference on the Standardization of Geographical Names. 29 August 2002. Retrieved 7 June 2019.
4. Article 6 of the "Convention between France and Siam Amending the Stipulations of the Treaty of 8 October 1904, Concerning the Territories and the Other Arrangements, Signed at Paris, the 13th February 1904."
5. "General Population census of the Kingdom of Cambodia 2019" (PDF). National Institute of Statistics Ministry of planning. October 2020.
6. "Administration; Siem Reap". Kingdom of Cambodia. Archived from the original on 27 May 2009. Retrieved 27 June 2010.

External links

• Official website
• Siem Reap - The Gate to Angkor (Official Website of the Provincial Town Siem Reap on www.rithyrineangkorresidence.com