Wat Phnom was originally financed by a wealthy widow named Daun Chi Penh

 Wat Phnom, the namesake and symbol of the capital city of Phnom Penh, sets prominently atop an artificial 88.5 ft (27 meter) hill (or 'Phnom') near the Tonle Sap River in the northeast section of the city. Legend relates that Daun (Grandmother or Lady) Penh, a wealthy widow, found a large koki tree in the river. She hoped to use it for a house, but inside a hollow of the tree she found four bronze statues of the Buddha (and possibly a stone statue of Vishnu); she erected a small shrine on the site to protect them. Eventually this became a sacred site and sanctuary where people would make wishes and pray for good luck and for success in school or business. Another account of the founding of the wat suggests King Ponhea Yat (r. 1405-67), built the sanctuary (vihara or vihear) when he moved his capital from Angkor to Phnom Penh in 1422. The prominent stupa immediately west of the sanctuary, or vihara (vihear) contains the ashes of the king.

The pagoda was originally financed by a wealthy widow named Daun Chi Penh. The combination of the site for the temple and its financier provided Cambodia's capital its name. Indochinatourguide.com is pleased to take you to grab a genuine Cambodia tour.
When lady Penh and some curious villagers pulled the tree out of the water, they discovered four bronze and one stone sculpture of Buddha in a hole of its trunk. A small wooden temple was built on the hill to house the sculptures. The hill was at that time called "Phnom Doun Penh" which literally means, "Hill of an old lady named Penh".
In 1434, the old capital was moved from Angkor to the present day Phnom Penh. Many small buildings and palaces were built and the temple was rebuilt. Behind the temple was a large burial chamber where lions were kept as guards, near the staircase.