Phnom Kong Rei or Kong Rei Mountain is a mountain range in Kampong Chhnang Province, Cambodia.

Phnom Neang Kang Rey How to go: 14km (1h) From Provincial Town. Location: Description: Nature Wildlife Preserves, Location: Trabek Village, Trangil Commune, KomPong Leng District. Among the major Tourist Attractions in Kampong Chhnang, the Phnom Neang Kang Rey, Kampong Chhnang is one of the most attractive and popular one. You will take about an hour to travel to Phnom Neang Kang Rey, Kampong. For the tourists and travelers, there are regular buses and cars available from all parts of Cambodia. Phnom Neang Kang Rey is a natural wildlife preserve. Phnom Neang Kang Rey, Kampong Chhnang is situated in the Trabek Village in the Trangil Commune at the Kom Pong Leng District of Cambodia.

Phnom Neang Kang Rey as a natural reserve has been attracting large numbers of tourists from various areas of Cambodia as well as from other parts of the world. There are tall and beautiful trees and flowering plants that add to the natural beauty and charm of the place. You can go for a casual stroll and can organize natures walk along the wonderful Phnom Neang Kang Rey, Kampong Chhnang.

The name is a clue. Its fame derives from a typically convoluted Khmer legend involving ogres, beautiful princesses, scheming queens and of course a courageous but gullible prince. The tale has been made into books, songs and movies. Suffice to say that the prince was forced to leave his beloved Neang Kong Rei to go on a mission, and used a spell to turn the intervening lands into water so she couldn’t follow him. Heartbroken, the princess cried herself to death at her loss and the mountain is said to resemble the shape of a prone, weeping maiden. Larger than life statues of the devastated girl and the departing prince on his trusty stead can be seen in the small traffic circle park close to the provincial hall.

Geography of Phnom Neang Kong Rei

Phnom Kong Rei is a small isolated range of moderate height lying north of Kampong Chhnang city. The range stretches for about 4.5 km in a WNW - ESE direction and is a conspicuous local landmark located north of the town across the Tonle Sap River.

Its highest point is 310 m and its silhouette seen from afar rising above the flat landscape looks like a sleeping lady.

It is one of the main tourist spots in Kampong Chhnang Province, particularly during Khmer New Year. Along with sightseers, the mountain attracts spiritually motivated laymen and women who come to pray and meditate.

At the base of the mountain there is a hut for resident Buddhist monks and lay followers to do prayer and meditation. Leading from the hut to the top of the mountain is a path named Plov sdach (the King's path).

While in previous decades a hike up the mountain involved the potential risk of encounters with tigers and other animals, the area is now sadly denuded of wildlife.

Legends

Named after Kong Rei, the beautiful daughter of the ogress in the Khmer folk tale of the Twelve Sisters (Khmer: Puthisen Neang Kong Rei), this mountain is important in Cambodian culture. The people who live in Kampong Chhnang Province believe that the Kong Rei mountain range is the legendary lady at rest and warn their children to not eat leaf vegetables from the mountain because they could be Kong Rei's hair.

Chan Pav, 40, a resident of Trabek village at the mountain's base, says that Kong Rei's attraction for spiritually-minded visitors are caves that possess strong spiritual power. While Pav said that spiritual power noticeably decreased during the Pol Pot regime, recent peace and stability had put it on an upward trend. "The scientists seem not to believe in spirit power, but we here must believe in it because it is true," he said. "This mountain requires [visitors to express] the truth. If not [they] will get trouble.

There is also a Khmer song based on the legend of the mountain written by Mae Bon and sung by Ros Sereysothea.

• Elevation: 310 m

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