khmer sources

Battambang is a large and important province in the northwest of Cambodia. Its name translates as "the lost long stick". Battambang combines local legends with beautiful countryside, hills and Angkorian temples.

Local folklore states that in the eleventh century King Chakrapoate, Cambodia’s sixteenth king, mobilized his people. He ordered them to dig canals to drain land around the capital and cut trees in the Dangrek and Cardomom Mountains to build a palace. The people obeyed his wishes, but were unhappy, as the work was hard.
One day Gnoung, one of the local chiefs (a farmer’s son from Suorn Monkhut Village, now in Laos), was put in charge of cooking rice for his group. He was preparing to cook when he realized he did not have enough spoons. He cut some wood from a Rakar tree. The Rakar has dark wood and when he stirred the rice, the rice turned black. As he was hungry, he ate the rice and after felt very strong.

When he started to work cutting timber, he found he was amazingly powerful and could pull as many trees as seven elephants. His efforts earned him respect from his people and they began to obey his orders. Out of respect for the Rakar tree, he cut a long section from a nearby tree and made it into a stick to use in battle. He declared himself the people’s King. His people called him Dam Bang Kragnoung (King Black Bat). He ordered his men to take up arms against King Chakrapoate. People were happy with this, as they did not like having to work so hard.

When Dam Bang Kragnoung attacked King Chakrapoate’s forces, King Chakrapoate was sick. He tried to lead his men, but fell down and died. In 1545 (Buddhist era, or 1001 A.D.), Dam Bang Kragnoug became the King of Cambodia.
He immediately ordered that all of the previous royal family should be put to death, as he was worried that they would challenge his throne.
At that time, the eldest son of King Chakrapoate, Buttum Komar, was 13 years old. He had already entered a forest pagoda and was learning to be a monk. The pagoda was renowned for its strong magic. Accompanying him was his five-year-old brother, Serey Komar. The new king’s forces came to look for the two brothers and found Serey Komar. His mother tried to protect him, but they threw him in a fire. He managed to escape, but was badly burned. His arms and legs were crippled. The monks took him in and looked after him. As he grew up, the monks called him Prohm Kel. His disability did not stop his studies and he learned well.
One night Dam Bang Kragnoung saw a strange light in the sky, brighter than the moon. He called a fortune teller to interpret this sign. The fortune teller told him, "You will be king for only seven years, seven months and seven days. There is a good person born in this country. He will ride a white horse around the palace and seven days later he will replace you as king".
Dam Bang Kragnoung listened but was not afraid. He thought that he would be able to kill the newcomer with his magic Rakar stick.

The news of the good person spread throughout the kingdom and people waited expectantly and began to gather at Mohanokor (eventually called Angkor). Disabled people were gladdened to hear that they would be cured by this person. After a time, the news reached Prohm Kel. He asked the head monk for permission to go to Mohanokor to wait for the good person. The monk gave his permission and Prohm Kel left for the city.
Because of his disability, he could not move very fast and he was very tired. He stopped to rest under a big Bo tree on the outskirts of the city. While he rested, an old man approached with a white horse. The old man said, "Would you watch my horse and two bags for a moment?" Prohm Kel declined. However, the old man tied his horse to Prohm Kel’s arm anyway and ran into the forest. The horse became angry and pulled his arm. Amazingly, his arm was healed! He tied the horse to his leg. The horse pulled. His leg was healed! He continued until all his limbs were healed.

Prom Kel then wondered what was in the bags. In one bag was some food. He was hungry after his long and tiring journey, so he ate the food. He immediately felt strong. He looked in the other bag. Inside was some fine cloth and well made shoes. He put them on and got on the horse. Immediately the horse galloped off towards the capital.
When the crowds of people saw Prom Kel, they started to applaud, as they knew it was the good person they were expecting. Of course, Dam Bang Kragnoung was also waiting to see this person.
When he saw Prom Kel on the white horse he was furious. He took his magic black stick and hurled it at Prom Kel, in order to destroy him. Unfortunately for Dam Bang Kragnoung, his magic stick became normal in the presence of the Prom Kel. The magic stick flew off and landed far away in a village which became known as O‘Dam Bang. The village can still be found in Sangkee district, Battambang province. The French used the name to form the name Battambang.

Dam Bang Kragnoug had lost his magic stick, so he and all his followers left the throne for Prohm Kel, Seven days later, as predicted, Prohm Kel was crowned the eighteenth king of Cambodia. Cambodia was at peace again.

Nowadays Battambang province is a vital agricultural area. Crops include corn, beans, oranges, sesame, and especially rice. According to 2002 year’s statistics, Battambang province produced five hundred thousand tons of rice. It is bordered by the Tonle Sap lake in the east, Pursat province to the southeast, Thailand and Pailin province in the west and Banteay Meanchey to the north. Battambang covers an area of 1,270,200 hectares. 172,000 hectares is towns and villages, 264,500 hectares is agricultural land and 476,520 ha is forest. The rest is floodland. There are 13 districts, 96 communes, and 741 villages. There are about 172,451 families and 1,250,695 people. 53 percent are women. 70% of people farm.

Battambang is also the name of the provincial capital and is Cambodia’s second largest city. It is about 291km from Phnom Penh. You can get there on National Route 5, or by train. Boats also travel to and from Siem Reap.