GeoOracle #86: Phnom Penh

7 September 2026 · City · Difficulty 2 of 5

How it opened

I stand where two great rivers embrace, whispering stories of royalty and devotion.

The five clues

  1. 01A lady's gift to the land, crowned by a sacred spire where monks once prayed.
  2. 02Two mighty rivers converge here, their waters flowing through Southeast Asia's heart.
  3. 03Since 1865, I have been the throne room of a nation, growing into its beating center.
  4. 04My name honors both a Buddhist temple and the visionary woman who founded me.
  5. 05I am Cambodia's capital, the most populous city, home to the Royal Palace itself.

The answer

Phnom Penh

Cambodia · Asia

About this place

Phnom Penh emerged from the vision of Lady Penh, who established this city around the sacred Wat Phnom temple, a name that lives on in the city's identity. Positioned at the confluence of the Tonlé Sap and Mekong rivers, it became Cambodia's seat of power in 1865 and transformed into the nation's political and cultural heart. Today, this primate city pulses with over 2 million souls, its Royal Palace standing as a testament to centuries of continuity and royal heritage.

Geography

Phnom Penh lies in Cambodia at the point where the Tonlé Sap river meets the Mekong, a junction that also marks the beginning of the Bassac River. This meeting of waterways places the city at a natural crossroads of the country's river system, shaping its layout along the banks where the three channels diverge.

History

Tracing its origins back to 1372, the settlement later became Cambodia's capital in 1865, a status that has endured since. Over time it grew from that royal foundation into the country's leading city, taking on the roles of political, economic, industrial and cultural hub for the whole nation.

Notable features

As Cambodia's largest and most populous city, Phnom Penh serves as the seat of the monarchy, centred on the Royal Palace. Its name recalls Wat Phnom, a Buddhist temple, and Lady Penh, credited as the city's founder, linking its modern identity to figures from its founding story.

Fact sheet

Country
Cambodia
Continent
Asia
Coordinates
11.570, 104.921
Population
2,129,371
Founded
1372

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