Ta Prohm
ប្រាសាទតាព្រហ្ម
This jungle temple is swallowed by the giant roots of kapok and strangler fig trees. It was the filming location for Tomb Raider and is the best-known example of trees and stone growing together at Angkor.
Ta Prohm was built in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university for his mother. At its height, it housed more than 12,000 people. When the École française d'Extrême-Orient restored Angkor, it deliberately kept Ta Prohm as it was, overgrown by the jungle. For centuries, the huge roots of kapok and strangler fig trees have wrapped around the galleries, gateways, and walls, creating a spectacle where tree and stone are fused. The 2001 film Tomb Raider was shot here, and afterward the temple became one of Angkor's most popular sights.
The main highlights are the “Tomb Raider tree” inside the east gate, the “crocodile tree” near the central sanctuary, the “dinosaur” relief on the gallery wall (which is actually a wild boar or a rhinoceros), and the apsara reliefs in the Dancing Hall. In recent years, an Indian team has restored some of the buildings and laid wooden walkways. A typical route runs from east to west, or the reverse. It takes about 1–1.5 hours. Ta Prohm is about 2 kilometers east of Angkor Thom. It is usually included in the afternoon of the small circuit, but it is best to go early. Tour groups gather from 9:00 to 11:00 and from 14:00 to 16:00, while at 7:30 a.m., just after opening, you will see almost no one.
The ground inside is covered in loose stones and tree roots, so wear non-slip shoes and watch for falling branches overhead. Please do not climb on the roots to take photos.
Opening hours
07:30–17:30
Nearby sights
- Ta Keo
- Chau Say Tevoda
- Banteay Kdei & Srah Srang
- Thommanon
- Prasat Kravan
- Bayon Temple / Angkor Thom
- Angkor Wat
- Terrace of the Elephants & Terrace of the Leper King