Wat Ounalom

The name of Wat Ounalom commemorates one of the holiest relics in Cambodia, a hair (lom) from the whorl (unna) between the eyebrows of the Buddha. ==History==

The temple underwent restoration during the tenure of the Supreme Patriarch (Thieng). When Prince Damrong Rajanubhab of Siam visited Phnom Penh, he described the temple as follows: "I visited Wat Ounalom, which is the temple of the Supreme Patriarch of the Mahanikaya Order, located north of the Royal Palace. Among the temples in Phnom Penh, whether royal or public, even those of ancient origin like Wat Ounalom, were often rebuilt during the reign of King Norodom, when Phnom Penh was established as the capital. Later, the old ordination hall (ubosot) was demolished and replaced by a new one. Construction of the new building began in 1957 and was completed in 1960. A merit-making ceremony celebrating its completion was held for four days and three nights from June 1–4, 1963. The new ordination hall is a three-story structure." During the Khmer Rouge period, Wat Ounalom suffered severe destruction. However, it was rapidly restored afterward and has since become one of the most important religious and tourist sites in Phnom Penh today. ==Architecture==

Wat Ounalom’s complex comprises 44 buildings, including monastic residences, shrines, and educational facilities. The central stupa dominates the grounds and enshrines the sacred relic traditionally identified as one of the Buddha’s eyebrow hairs. The three-story ordination hall, reconstructed in the late 1950s, serves as the main ceremonial building. ==Significance==

As the traditional seat of the Mahanikaya Supreme Patriarch, Wat Ounalom functions as the spiritual and administrative center of Cambodian Theravāda Buddhism. It is one of the key pilgrimage destinations in the country and an important symbol of Buddhist continuity in Cambodia, particularly following its reconstruction after the devastation of the Khmer Rouge era. ==Gallery==