Phnom Chisor Field Trip

Today the Grade 4 classes travelled out to Phnom Chisor for their first of 3 field trips to start our new unit of inquiry "Beliefs System".

Phnom Chisor is a 133 m high hill in Sla village, Rovieng commune, Samraŏng District, Takéo Province, Cambodia. It rises about 42 km south of Phnom Penh. 

There is an ancient Khmer temple located on top of the hill. The temple was built in the 11th century of laterite and bricks with carved sandstone lintels by the Khmer Empire king Suryavarman I, who practiced Brahmanism. It was dedicated to the Hindu divinities Shiva and Vishnu. The original name of the temple was Sri Suryaparvata, "The mountain of Surya".

At the top of Phnom Chisor (Chisor Mountain) sits some very nicely preserved 10th/11th century AD, Angkorian era temple ruins. At the time the temple was constructed, the mountain was known as Suryaparvata, 'Mountain of the Sun God'. The temple was built under King Suryavarman I during a period when Angkorian Empire was powerful and on the rise. As most Angkorian temples of the period, this temple is Hindu, dedicated to Shiva and Vishnu. Scenes including Brahma, Shiva and Vishnu are still visible, carved on some of the sandstone lintels and pediments. 

To get to the top of the mountain you must first walk up 412 steps to the temple on top of the hill. It sure is a somewhat wearing climb, but the amazing view of the countryside from the mountaintop is well worth it.

Once at the top the classes were split into 5 groups where we explored the different shrines and temples.







The bus trip back should have been much more quieter than the bus trip out but unfortunately the steps up and down did not damper some of the children's spirits.