Pol Pot's Cremation Site: A Guide to a Dark Chapter of History
A Note for Visitors: Approach with Respect
This is not a typical tourist attraction. The site marks the end of a man responsible for the Cambodian Genocide, in which an estimated 1.5 to 2 million people died. Any visit should be undertaken with the utmost respect for the victims and as a somber moment of historical reflection, not as a spectacle.
Who Was Pol Pot?
Pol Pot was the leader of the Khmer Rouge, the brutal communist regime that ruled Cambodia from 1975 to 1979. His government forcibly evacuated cities, abolished money and private property, and orchestrated the systematic murder of intellectuals, ethnic minorities, and anyone deemed an enemy of the state. This horrific period is known as the Cambodian Genocide, and its devastating impact is still felt throughout the country today.
The Cremation Site Today
After years of guerrilla warfare following his regime's collapse, Pol Pot died in 1998 in Anlong Veng, the final Khmer Rouge stronghold. His body was unceremoniously burned on a pyre of rubbish and old tires. Today, the site is marked by a simple, rustic shelter with a corrugated iron roof. There is no grand monument or tomb—just the humble spot where his reign of terror finally ended. The simplicity of the site stands in stark contrast to the immense scale of the suffering he caused.
Understanding the Visit: Reflection, Not Homage
Visitors do not come here to pay respect to Pol Pot. Instead, a visit to this site serves several important purposes for those seeking to understand this dark history:
- Bearing Witness: It provides a tangible link to the end of one of the 20th century's most brutal dictatorships.
- Historical Context: It helps in understanding the final chapter of the Khmer Rouge, who retreated to this remote area near the Thai border after being ousted from power.
- Reflection: For many, it is a quiet place to reflect on the millions of lives lost and the nation's incredible resilience in the face of such tragedy.
Part of the Anlong Veng History Trail
Pol Pot's cremation site is a key location on the Anlong Veng historical trail, which documents the last stand of the Khmer Rouge. Other important sites nearby include the lakeside house of Ta Mok (the brutal military chief known as "The Butcher") and the Dangrek escarpment, offering a deeper understanding of this final, grim chapter of Cambodian history.
Planning Your Visit
Location: The site is located in the Anlong Veng district of Oddar Meanchey province, a remote area approximately 2.5 to 3 hours' drive north of Siem Reap, near the Thai border.
Getting There: The journey requires a private car or motorbike. The roads have improved significantly, but it is still a long day trip from Siem Reap.
Tickets: There is no entrance fee to view the cremation site itself.
Map
A visit to Pol Pot's cremation site is a sobering and important historical experience, offering a moment to reflect on the past and honor the memory of the millions who suffered under the Khmer Rouge regime.
