Visit Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm was left mainly unrestored by archaeologists and some areas of the temple are imprenetable or access is very difficult. Due to the poor state of the temple and its size and complexity orientation is not easy and a Ta Prohm plan or a local guide are essential when visiting the site. Ta Prohm is a flat Khmer temple structure with 5 rectangular enclosing walls, a central sanctuary and series of long low buildings connected with passages and local galleries. Traditionally access to the site was from the west, but since the clearance of the east entrance this last one is becoming a more popular starting point. You can ask your trasport to drop you off at this entrance and pick you up in the western entrance.

If you enter the enclosure from the eastern Gopura next to the road, the path ahead will lead you to a grand sandstone terrace 500 meters long and with a cruciform shape. Beyond the terrace you will see a sencond Gopura, the most important of Ta Prohm entrances with beautiful Buddhist bas-reliefs. Ahead of this Gopura we find the Hall of Dancers, a 20mx30m building containing lintels carved with dancing apsaras. It is believed that the function of this room was for ritual dances. Walk along the right of this room and you will see a series of galleries and shrines carved with Buddhist scenes. The Central Sanctuary is camouflaged amonst these galleries and it is not easily recognisable, mainly due to its lack of decoration. The nakedness of the walls are possibly due to the fact that the room was decorated with perishable materials such as wood that have long disappeared. From here onwards you can get lost in the charming passages and galleries preferably progressing westwards until you reach the last and western Gopura in the outer enclosure wall.

 


  • Ta Prohm temple. Experience the wonder of the early explorers in Cambodia

    Ta Phrom plan courtesy of Maurice Glaize.

    A Stegosaurus has slipped in one of the innumerable walls at Ta Prohm, would you like to find it? Our expert guides will reveal this and other hidden treasures in this mysterious site. If you are interested please contact us and we will be happy to help you.

     

  •  

    Peerless service standards and local positioning have made us the tour operator of choice by international luxury travel groups and discerning independent travellers to Angkor Wat, Cambodia and Southeast Asia.

    Ta Phrom - Angkor temples guides by ABOUTAsia.