Tomb Raider

Most people visiting the Angkor Wat area will see Ta Prohm Temple during their visit. Most are also aware that Ta Prohm was the temple used for the filming of Tomb Raider.

Kissed by the sun

Early last year i visited Siem Reap for the second time. The first time was way back in the year 2001 when i read an article saying that Cambodia was starting to promote Siem Reap and now is the time to see prior to the influx of tourist.

This time around 17 years later i visited with my younger son. Yes there were LOTS more tourists, the airport was expanded, the walks to the temples longer due to so many buses but still well worth the trip.

We booked a Van with driver for three days for less than 200 usd and it was well worth it. The company will plan the itinerary but you can deviate or create your own as well. Since my son had never been there we had to see the main temples but also a few off the beaten path.

Ta Prohm

I am not a big fan of lots of tourist as i want to get photos that are people free unless its family or friends. We asked the driver to do the normal route of the tour groups backwards and start two hours earlier to get a jump on the crowds.

Ruins

Ta Prohm as mentioned came into the limelight after Tomb Raider came out in 2001. Built in the late 12th and early 13th centuries is originally was a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university.

Walk thru

The temple is pretty much the same condition in which it was found. Large trees growing on parts of the temple, fallen stone work and being located in the jungle make for great photo opportunities.

Trees growing around the temple

The intricate detail of carvings

Son taking a quick break

Tree growing thru the temple

After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 15th century, most of the temples were abandoned and left for ruins. In the early 21st century the effort began to reclaim what the jungle took.

We decided it was to dark to enter that doorway

Ta Prohm was one of few temples that was decided to leave as pure as it could be and ensure safety for persons visiting. It had merged with the jungle but not to the extent of becoming part of it.

There are so many places to explore

For the most part you can wander around the temple grounds bearing in mind to use common sense from getting hurt. There are lots of spiders in corridors and nooks so if spiders are not your thing you may want to stay on the main paths.

Son getting blessed from a Chi Phram for a small donation

The detail is amazing what was done back then

Still visible

Ta Prohm was one of my favorite temples prior to the movie and still is even with more visitors.

Amazing architecture with nature hugging it

Winding pathway

Most persons go to see the temples of Siem Reap but take a couple extra days and get to see the beauty of Cambodia and its people.