Phnom Penh rises at the confluence of three great rivers — the Mekong, Tonle Sap, and Bassac. Cambodia's capital is a city of extraordinary contrasts: glittering temple spires reflected in the Mekong at dusk, the scent of jasmine garlands at temple gates, and wide colonial boulevards lined with bougainvillea. Nearly 2.6 million souls call this city home. The city's most powerful sites engage with Cambodia's darkest chapter — the Khmer Rouge era of 1975–1979 — through the haunting Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum and the sobering Killing Fields at Choeung Ek. Balanced against this weight is the regal grandeur of the Royal Palace, Wat Phnom, and the golden treasures of the National Museum.