The Independence Monument is a prominent 20-meter-high tower located in the heart of the capital, Phnom Penh. It was built in 1958 in the Angkorian style on the occasion of Cambodia's independence day from the French protectorate in 1953. It is also a memorial to the war dead, and attracts many tourists because of its unique appearance and design that distinguishes it From the rest of the buildings in the city, it was formed in the shape of a lotus flower.