Ta Prohm was one of the locations I was most excited to see in Cambodia. The brief rainshower earlier was really a blessing, not only to see Angkor Wat in its drenched viewpoint but also to ease the morning summer heat. We didn’t feel the heat until 12nn, which gave us almost 6 hours of cool air and bright sunny weather. The best way to see Ta Prohm is when you can look at the sky.
Ta Prohm, a temple-monastery, is one of the major temples built during the reign of Jayavarman II. It features a set of concentric galleries with corner towers or gopuras. Gopura is the ornately decorated ceremonial gateway or archway of a temple or city.
The design is a typical “flat” Khmer temple, very much different from Phimeanakas’s temple-pyramid or Angkor’s temple-mountain. Ta Prohm’s inner levels are higher than the outer while five rectangular enclosing walls surround a central sanctuary. Same with most Khmer temples, Ta Prohm is oriented to the east, so the temple proper is set back to the west along an elongated east-west axis.
Rajavihara was the original name of Ta Prohm that was constructed in the same style as Bayon located about 1 kilometer east of Angkor Thom. The Khmer King Jayavarman VII is also behind this Buddhist monastery and university, now popularly known by its modern name. Ta Prohm follows the ancestor Brahma.
Jayavarman VII built Rajahivara, which mean royal temple in Khmer, in honor of his family. The main impression of the temple represents Prajnaparamita, the personification of wisdom that was modelled after the king’s mother. The northern satellite temples in the third enclosure was said to be dedicated to the kings’ guru while the southern satellite temple in the same location was dedicated to his elder brother.
I wish I could also dedicate large temples that make history to each of my family.
The temple’s stele records that this particular site was home to more than 12,500 people (including 18 high priests and 615 dancers), with an additional 80,000 souls in the surrounding villages working to provide services and supplies.
After the fall of the Khmer empire in the 15th century, Ta Prohm was abandoned and neglected for centuries, but still remains as one of the most imposing temples. One significant attribute of this location is the massive roots of overly giant trees that can pierce through your skyview.
When the effort to conserve and restore Angkor Wat began in the early 20th century, Ta Prohm would be left largely excluded from the conservation and restoration program.
Ecole Francaise d’Extreme-Orient chose the Ta Prohm temple to be left in its ‘natural state,’ as an illustration of how most Angkor looked on its discovery in the 19th century. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Ta Prohm has been left in much the same condition in which it was found: the photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surroundings have made it one of Angkor’s most popular temples with visitors.
This inspired decision of Ecole Francaise d’Extreme-Orient involved a significant amount of work to prevent the further collapse of the structure. It also allowed for enough clearing of vegetation to allow entry to make for the “concession to the general taste for the picturesque.”
I gawk at the gigantic roots with a silent reverie. Modern constructions merged with the immensity of the jungle seem to be the timeless clash depicting humans versus nature. Trees act as the agents of destruction. The wreck site shows the frailties of human strength. The ruins give off a condition of apparent neglect. Something eerie and romantic captures the surrounding.
The temple has a lot of hidden corners. Being in that actual location feels like I’m in a magical land. It evokes an ambience that is both lovely and creepy. Despite being forsaken, Ta Prohm is boasting an electric and flagrant energy.
Albums:
Cambodia Trip Set 1 DSLR Photos
Cambodia Trip Set 2 DLSR Photos
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