Jayavarman VII dedicated Ta Prohm to his mother — the temple's original name was Rājavihāra, "the royal monastery." According to the foundation stele, the complex housed 12,500 people within its walls, including 615 dancers and 79,940 officiants in the surrounding villages. It was a state within a state, supported by 3,140 tributary villages.
What You Will See
The Giant Silk-Cotton Trees
The iconic tree of Ta Prohm is the silk-cotton tree (Tetrameles nudiflora), also known as the giant kapok tree. Its buttress roots cascade down the walls, infiltrating the stone joints and lifting the slabs. The most photographed scene features a silk-cotton tree that "embraces" the facade of a gallery tower — an image that became iconic after the filming of Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) in the early 2000s.
The Strangler Figs
Several species of Ficus (strangler figs) have also colonized Ta Prohm. Their mechanism is different: the seed germinates in a high crack, and the roots then descend along the facade to reach the ground. As they grow, they gradually encircle the structure, literally "tightening" it — hence the name. One of the strangler figs at Ta Prohm has completely engulfed a gopura tower at the east entrance.
The Inner Galleries
Beyond the trees, Ta Prohm retains galleries with well-preserved bas-reliefs in some areas. The devatas (guardian goddesses) sculpted in the niches exhibit the same sophistication as those at Angkor Wat. In the inner chapels, late Buddhas (added after the original) coexist with empty niches where Hindu images were installed before being smashed.
🌿 The conservation puzzle
Some Ta Prohm trees hold stones in place: their roots act as living mortar. Others split them apart. The EFEO and ASI (Archaeological Survey of India, involved since 2003) decide, stone by stone and tree by tree, what stays and what must be cut. It is one of the world's hardest heritage conservation challenges.
How to Visit Ta Prohm
daily
depending on crowds
or 3:30–5:30 PM
uneven ground, roots
Visiting Direction
Enter through the west gate (on the small circuit side) and exit through the east gate, or vice versa. Both entrances have their appeal: the west gate features classic nāga walkways; the east gate showcases the most impressive strangler fig. If you arrive by tuk-tuk, agree with your driver on the pick-up point (east or west).
What Not to Miss
- The "Lara Croft" silk-cotton tree — located in the main inner courtyard, identifiable by the signage and groups of photographers
- The east gate with the strangler fig — the most impressive tree on site
- The "dance hall" with sculpted pediments of devatas
- The northeast and southeast galleries, less restored, with piles of collapsed stones that give an idea of the site's condition before restoration work
Ta Prohm is usually included in small-circuit tours (Angkor Wat + Bayon + Ta Prohm). Dedicated guided visits are available on GetYourGuide.
Frequently asked questions
The EFEO deliberately left it in a 'rediscovered in the jungle' state from the early 20th century. Some trees are reinforced or removed when they threaten structures. India (via the ASI) has been involved since 2003.
Arrive at opening (7:30 AM) or late afternoon (after 3:30 PM). Early morning, with mist between the silk-cotton roots, is the most atmospheric.
That is Ta Prohm's paradox: some trees support the stones, others split them. The EFEO and ASI monitor and stabilise the most threatened structures. Balance is an ongoing challenge.