The Jungle-Temple of Ta Prohm

The second part of our Angkor Wat tour was concentrated at the temple of Ta Prohm. The construction of Ta Prohm as a Buddhist temple began in 1186 A.D. The design of the temple is not like the previous ones with steep stairs and elevations. This was a flat kind of temple with only a few stairs.

As per wikipedia, Ta Prohm was singled out because it was "one of the most imposing (temples) and the one which had best merged with the jungle, but not yet to the point of becoming a part of it." It is composed of a number of towers, corridors and closed courtyards.

Ta Prohm is extensively ruined but can still be explored. While we were there, we observed that some parts have been closed off from tourists as it was being restored.

Some corridors were impassable and risky of falling debris. Nevertheless, a lot of restoration are going around the temple to keep the safety of visitors and maintain the lost-in-the-temple/ jungle atmosphere. 

Another thing that made Ta Prohm famous is that this is where the movie of Angelina Jolie, Tomb Raider, was filmed. Our tour guide said that the producers of the film was able to gather permit to close the temple from visitors when they shot the film.

Tall and sturdy trees seem to rise up and swallow the temple walls. The roots of the tree below looks like that of a snake's body.

We had fun posing as secret agents looking for some criminals hiding on crevices and roots.

There were surely a lot of trees and roots around. 

Look how mighty the roots of these fig and silk-cotton trees impose themselves on the temple walls.

Visiting Ta Phrom last was a sweet conclusion of the whole tour. Going into the temples and its corridors felt as if discovering a temple in a jungle. It was a mesmerizing and wonderful experience. Thank you and 'til next blog!