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Extremely rare map of Southern Cambodia, centered on the Damrei (Elephant) Mountains.

The map illustrates the tourism options for French tourists in the region, noting:

• Route carrossable (roads suitable for motor cars)
• Piste pour cavaliers et pietons (horse trails and foot trails
• Mountains
• High forests

The map identifies Buddhist Altars, Viewpoints, Pagodas, Campsite, Grottos, etc. The region was known at the time of the publication of the map to have been inhabited by Elephants and Tigers.

There are several historic and cultural sites in the national park area. Bokor Hill Station (Station d'altitude de Bokor) is an abandoned French settlement on top of Phnom Bokor, where elite French colonial officers spent holidays during the hot season.

The Damrei Mountains have long been considered sacred and venerated by the Cambodians.

The hill station founded in 1922 and soon evolved into a popular retreat for French Colonial elite, who built a resort to offer an escape from the heat, humidity and general inhospitability of Phnom Penh.  The centerpiece of the resort was the grand Bokor Palace Hotel, inaugurated in 1925. It has been complemented by the villa of the "Résident Supérieur", a post office (now demolished), and a catholic church. It is also an important cultural site, showing how the colonial settlers spent their free time.

Bokor Hill was abandoned first by the French in late 1940s, during the First Indochina War, because of local insurrections guided by the Khmer Issarak.

It was only in 1962, for the reopening of the "Cité du Bokor", that a casino was established in the new hotels near the lake, (Hotels Sangkum and Kiri). Some buildings were added at this time: an annex for the palace, the mayor's office and a concrete parasol.

The Bokor mountain was abandoned again in 1972, as Khmer Rouge took over the area.

Rarity

The map is extremely rare.  We were not able to locate another example.