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Ta Prohm has not many narrative bas-reliefs(compared to Angkor Wat or Angkor Thom). One explanation that has been proffered for this dearth is that much of the temple's original Buddhist narrative artwork must have been destroyed by Hindu iconoclasts following the death of Jayavarman VII. At any rate, some depictions of scenes from Buddhist mythology do remain. One badly eroded bas-relief illustrates the "Great Departure" of Siddhartha, the future Buddha, from his father's palace.[6] The temple also features stone reliefs of devatas (minor female deities), meditating monks or ascetics, and dvarapalas or temple guardians.
Ta Promh is one of the most stunning temples at Angkor in Cambodia. Built mainly in the 12th and 13th centuries, it was neglected for centuries and partly reclaimed by the jungle, giving it an amazing look.
This is the famous Lara Croft Temple. The Setting Sun viewed through the temple windows is spectacular - as you can see from these visitors' expressions.
Ta Prohm in Cambodia is one of the more famous Angkor temples and is a very popular spot, second only to Angkor Wat temple for tourists. The temple is located 12.1km from Siem Reap within the main UNESCO archaeological park.
Ta Prohm was built under King Jayavarman VII in the late 12th century. It was originally dedicated to the King's mother in the Buddhist style but later converted to the Hindu style. Many of the figures of Buddha in niches were destroyed in the process and some converted to Shiva Linga (Hindu). The temple has remained in its collapsed state, part hidden by jungle and is most famous for the interplay between the giant tree roots and the stonework.
A rare inscription at Ta Prohm provides statistics on the temple's workers. Allowing for some exaggeration to honor the king, the inscription's report of around 80,000 workers, including 2700 officials and 615 dancers, is still astounding.
Sadly, Ta Prohm was looted quite heavily in recent years due to its relative isolation, and many of its ancient stone reliquaries have been lost.
Of Tomb Raider fame. I'm sure it would have been totally magical had there not been loads of tour groups swarming around, nattering away. Actually, to be fair it wasn't that crowded because it was late afternoon and most people were headed back into town.
When the effort to conserve and restore the temples of Angkor began in the early 21st century, the École française d'Extrême-Orient decided that Ta Prohm would be left largely as it had been found, as a "concession to the general taste for the picturesque." According to pioneering Angkor scholar Maurice Glaize, 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". Nevertheless, much work has been done to stabilize the ruins, to permit access, and to maintain "this condition of apparent neglect."