Ta Phrom

Ta Prohm, of Tomb Raider fame and often referred to as the “one with the trees”, is a phenomenal example of the interplay between man and nature and should not be missed.

Travel better, travel smarter

Save money, receive our latest updates and get the most out of your travels.

The decision by the Ecole Francaise d’Extreme-Orient to leave Ta Prohm in its original state was inspired, as although in places the trees are slowly destroying the monument—with some having to be chopped down in 2014—in others they’re holding it together. Although well-travelled wooden walkways meander through the monument, plenty of nooks and crannies, alleys and backways are around to explore.

Straight from the set of Alien. Photo taken in or around Ta Prohm, Angkor, Cambodia by Caroline Major.

Straight from the set of Alien. Photo: Caroline Major

Built by Jayavarman VII for his mother, and consecrated in 1186, Ta Prohm was the centrepiece of a city of more than 10,000 people and was also an active Buddhist monastery. While some interesting lintels and pediments are distributed throughout the temple—keep your eyes peeled for a medallion that oddly looks like a stegosaurus—for the casual visitor here, the main attraction are the trees. In some places they’ve displaced the walls completely, leaving their roots to form the archways and roofs that were once ... Travelfish members only (Full text is around 400 words.)

Get the full story.
Create an account.

Join Travelfish

Becoming a Travelfish subscriber costs A$35 for a year. Benefits include:
1) Full access to the site
2) 250+ PDF guides
3) Discount coupons
4) 50% off our travel planning service
5) And of course, our gratitude and a warm fuzzy feeling for helping us stay in business!