Kratié (town)

Province

Kratie ( other transcription: Krâchéh ) is a city of about 60,000 inhabitants in the east of Cambodia on the banks of the Mekong. It is the capital of the homonymous province.

The importance of Kratie has increased as Durchgangsreiseort of Cambodia overland to Laos as well as in the northeast ( Ratanakiri province minority ) and East ( minority Mondulkiri province ) in recent years. 2005 already got over 5,000 foreign tourists to Kratie. The main attraction for visitors from Kratie are the freshwater dolphins of the Mekong. While there were a few thousand copies in the 70 years in the Mekong waters of Cambodia, about 120 dolphins are currently only one whose number has remained stable for years. The largest number of about 60 dolphins living in a pool called Kampi, about 15 km north of Kratie. For the dolphins protection zones were established, the fishing has been prohibited and passing ships have to travel a specific route. Other attractions of the city are:

Attractions

The most important attraction is the above-mentioned River dolphins. Kampi is the name of the pool 15 north of the town of Kratie. Here is an observation station has been built. There are also boats for visits to the pool. The best time for observations 1-2 hours after sunrise and 1-2 hours before sunset. At best the dolphins are in the dry season to watch ( December to May), when the river is shallow and the dolphins come more to the surface.

Near the harbor

Phnom Sombok is a pagoda north of town. It is located on the only hill that exists within Kratie. A long stairway leads up to the pavilion. From the top, the visitor has a nice view on the Mekong.

The Historical Museum is located in the northern part of the city, near the right bend of the river promenade in the direction of exit for the airport and to Phnom Penh.

This is the oldest surviving from the early 19th century and renovated in Cambodian pagoda at the southern edge of the city. It was completely restored in 2002, with German funds and reminds with its beautiful typical Cambodian wood paintings on the pagodas in Luang Prabang.

This craft is exercised the city by members of the Cham minority about 30 km south in 3 villages.