Ta Prohm and the embrace of the jungle at Angkor
Published on 09/09/2026 at 16:11 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWS
Ta Prohm near Siem Reap in Cambodia is a Bayon-period temple where sandstone corridors, towers and courtyards stand intertwined with thick tree roots on an ancient monastic site. Built under King Jayavarman VII in the late twelfth century and consecrated in 1186 as a Buddhist royal monastery, it was originally known as Rajavihara and dedicated to the king’s mother.
Stone, trees and a temple left to the jungle
Ta Prohm forms part of the Angkor temple complex east of Angkor Thom, laid out as a large rectangular precinct with multiple enclosures, towers and galleries that together create a self-contained monastic city in stone.Ta Prohm forms part of the Angkor temple complex Within its walls, long galleries link courtyards and shrines, their sandstone blocks darkened by lichen and the shadows of trees.
One of the lasting impressions of Ta Prohm is the way the jungle has been allowed to remain close to the temple structures, with large trees rising from terraces and roots descending over walls and doorways.
Rajavihara: a royal Buddhist monastery
Ta Prohm was founded by Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and centre of learning, dedicated to his mother and to Prajnaparamita, the Buddhist concept associated with the “perfection of wisdom”.constructed in 1186 AD under the reign of Jayavarman VII An inscription records its original name, Rajavihara, meaning “Monastery of the King”, and describes a community of monks, officials and attendants supported by rice and wealth from across the Khmer realm.an inscription discovered in 1913 provides detail about the temple
The temple’s Bayon style places it in the late twelfth and early thirteenth centuries, a period when Jayavarman VII commissioned major building works across Angkor, including other monastic complexes and face-tower temples.Ta Prohm was constructed in the architectural style typical of the Bayon period Rajavihara’s dedication and layout reflect that programme, with shrines, courtyards and galleries arranged around a central sanctuary.
Layout, towers and galleries
The ground plan of Ta Prohm is organised as a series of rectangular enclosures, bordered by substantial walls and entered through gopurams, the gate-towers that mark each main approach.rectangular walls enclose Ta Prohm Inside these boundaries, the temple’s central sanctuary occupies a slightly raised platform, surrounded by galleries that once sheltered images and supported the daily rhythm of monastic life.
Along the galleries, carved lintels and pillars form sequences of doorways, while smaller towers punctuate the complex and create varied rooflines above the courtyards.
Visiting Ta Prohm: what travellers from Western Europe should know
- Ta Prohm stands within the Angkor archaeological area north of Siem Reap, reached by road from the city and linked to other Angkor temples by the main circuit routes.
- Exploring the temple involves walking through uneven sandstone corridors and courtyards, stepping over roots and stones, and using stairways between different levels.
- The surrounding region lies in a tropical lowland landscape, so conditions within the temple grounds can be humid and shaded beneath the canopy and stone structures.
- The official language is Khmer and the currency is the Cambodian riel.
- Entry requirements depend on your nationality; UK travellers can check the FCDO travel advice at gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice, Irish travellers the Department of Foreign Affairs at ireland.ie.
Searching for Ta Prohm on social platforms
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Frequently asked questions about Ta Prohm
Where is Ta Prohm located?
Ta Prohm is a temple within the Angkor complex near Siem Reap in Cambodia, lying to the east of Angkor Thom.
What should visitors expect inside Ta Prohm?
Visitors walk through stone galleries, courtyards and towers where tree roots and vegetation share the same space as carvings and shrines.
What makes Ta Prohm distinctive among Angkor temples?
The combination of Bayon-period monastic architecture in sandstone with large trees and roots woven through its structures gives Ta Prohm a characteristic jungle-bound appearance.
