Ta Prohm Temple

Attracting thousands of tourists and made famous by the movie Tomb Raider, Ta Prohm Temple is one of the most popular sites in the Angkor archaeological park in Cambodia. Having retained its authenticity and original appearance, the temple is nestled in the jungles of Siem Reap, just a few kilometers east of Angkor Wat. If you plan to visit Angkor Wat, make sure you don’t miss Ta Prohm Temple.

History

In 1186, King Jayavarman VII embarked on a large-scale construction and public works project.

Originally known as Old Brahma, Ta Prohm Temple, also named Rajavihara (meaning the king’s monastery), was one of the first temples built during this project. There is even an inscription on a stele marking the foundation of the temple at that time. King Jayavarman VII constructed the temple in honor of the royal family. The main idol of the temple represents Prajnaramita, the personification of wisdom, inspired by the king’s mother. Ta Prohm formed a pair with the Preah Khan temple monastery, built in 1191. The main figure of Preah Khan is Bodhisattva, which, in turn, was inspired by the king's father.

After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 15th century, Ta Prohm Temple was abandoned and neglected for centuries. The temples of Angkor were later restored and preserved in the early 21st century. The École Française d'Extrême-Orient (EFEO) decided to leave Ta Prohm in its original state, with its picturesque decorations intact. However, significant work was done to stabilize the ruins, improve visitor access, and preserve the temple’s original appearance. Ta Prohm Temple was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1992.

In 2013, the Archaeological Survey of India restored much of the temple complex. Wooden walkways, platforms, and ramps were installed around the site to protect the monument from further damage due to the high influx of tourists. Today, after the filming of Tomb Raider at this site, the temple is commonly known as "Angelina Jolie’s Temple."

Visiting Ta Prohm Temple

Since the temple was intentionally left in its original state with some parts in ruins, a visit to Ta Prohm offers a beautiful, photogenic, and atmospheric combination of large tree roots growing out of the ruins. This is also one of the key attractions that draw many visitors to the temples of Angkor.

The filming of Tomb Raider also enhanced the temple's fame as a site of adventure and discovery. Today, Ta Prohm represents a blend of great authenticity, reality, and fiction.

Belief

Compared to Indian culture, Brahma has greater significance in Thailand and Cambodia. With the fusion of Hinduism and Buddhism in Cambodia, the temple was dedicated to Prajnaramita and is largely considered a Buddhist temple. During your visit, you will feel a spiritual atmosphere hanging in the air, accompanied by unusual surroundings that will immerse you in a mystical world.

Description

Like other temples at Angkor, Ta Prohm is also built on a vast area. It spans 1 km by 700 meters, covering a total area of approximately 60 hectares. At the four corners of the temple, there are gates known as gopuras, each decorated with four-faced towers, similar to the architectural style seen in Angkor Thom. There is also a fifth gate located on the north wall, which once served as a service entrance. In total, the entire complex has five enclosures.

The five enclosures and their Gopuras

• Fifth Enclosure

After passing through the fifth gopura, a long path leads to a cross-shaped forest, crossing the moats. The terrace is overrun by large trees with silver-white trunks called "fromagers," whose roots deform the sandstone structure.

• Fourth Enclosure

Upon passing through the fourth gopura, you enter a courtyard measuring approximately 40 meters by 55 meters, bordered by laterite walls. Following a long sandstone walkway, you reach the gopura, from which a courtyard with pillars extends.

• Third Enclosure

Crossing the third gopura, on the western side of the third enclosure, you will see a second courtyard. Here, isolated towers are adorned with massive trees whose roots cling to them. Some of these towers have collapsed under the weight of the roots, merging with them. There are also sculpted pediments, particularly on the western side of the sanctuary, crowned by gigantic trees.

Visitors will then pass between two small structures and reach a large rectangular building made of sandstone. There are also several roofing blocks blocking access to the building, giving an artistic touch to the whole site. Continuing, lintels adorned with Apsara carvings mark the entrance to a hall dedicated to the dancers.

• Second Enclosure

On the eastern side, there is a large elevated sandstone terrace that extends from the gopura you have passed through. This enclosure once contained several monastic buildings, and some ruins remain near the eastern entrance. This entrance is surrounded by moats 25 meters wide, defining a square space of 250 meters on the side of the main temple.

The central sanctuary is heavily damaged and occupies the central courtyard. The visit continues by crossing the central courtyard and reaching the southern courtyard.

• First Enclosure

After passing through the western gopura of the first enclosure, you will see a huge tetrameles nudiflora on the left side—an immense tree clinging to the roof of the gallery, seemingly crushing it. With its large hand-like shape, the tree's roots reach down to the ground, supporting the oppressive roof.

The intertwined walls and roots, along with the alternating large trees and stones, make the site even more famous compared to other monuments in Angkor.

The Stele of the Temple

Near the main temple is a stele indicating that the site once housed more than 12,500 people, including 18 high priests and 615 dancers. Additionally, 80,000 people from surrounding villages contributed to the work done at Ta Prohm by providing services and supplies. Inscriptions also mention that the temple housed numerous treasures, including gold, pearls, and silk. It is also noted that expansions and reconstructions were added to Ta Prohm at the end of the 13th century. The temple was already a renowned site in its time.

Why is Ta Prohm Called "Angelina Jolie's Temple"?

The temple was a filming location for certain scenes in the movie Tomb Raider, where Angelina Jolie played the role of Lara Croft. The heroine fought against a secret Illuminati society to possess an ancient talisman. As a result, Angelina Jolie's name and the film itself captured the hearts of movie lovers, tourists, and even locals, which is why the temple has been nicknamed "Angelina Jolie’s Temple." Nearby, some restaurants even offer "Tomb Raider" cocktails, a marketing strategy that has further popularized the site.

How to get there

To reach the Angkor site, you should first travel from the capital, Phnom Penh, to Siem Reap. Numerous bus companies connect the capital to Siem Reap. The trip costs around 1 USD per 25 kilometers. The bus ride from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap takes 6 to 7 hours.

Once in Siem Reap, you will need to rent a car or motorbike to get to Angkor. Angkor is about 20 minutes north from the center of Siem Reap.

Hours

• There are three types of passes for visiting the Angkor site. The pass allows you to visit all the other sites. You can choose from these 3 types of tickets.
• The Angkor site is open from 5:00 AM to 6:00 PM every day. It is always required to have your ticket to visit certain temples. To explore the entire Angkor Wat site, it is recommended to rent a tuk-tuk or a bicycle.
• The best time of the year to visit Angkor is from November to March.