Pailin province – sapphires, rubies and the Kula people
Pailin, at the northern edge of the Cardamom Mountains, was founded during the Khmer Empire as an important trading centre and kept this role under French rule. In the 1870s veins of sapphires and rubies were discovered in the area, attracting miners and merchants from far away.
Between the late 19th and early 20th century, many immigrants from Burma, including from the gem town of Mogok, settled around Pailin. They became known as the Kula people and built structures in traditional Burmese style, some of which still shape the town's character. Pailin was later separated from Battambang to become its own province. Do you have a Pailin story or family memory? Share it with the community!