Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is perhaps the most atmospheric and photogenic of all the Angkor temples. Left largely in the same condition in which it was found, massive silk-cotton and fig trees have grown through and over the stone structures, their root systems intertwining with walls and towers in a dramatic display of nature reclaiming human creation. Built in 1186 by King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and university, Ta Prohm was originally known as Rajavihara. At its peak, the complex housed over 12,500 people, including 18 high priests and 615 dancers. The inscription at the temple records that the complex controlled 3,140 villages and employed nearly 80,000 people. The temple gained worldwide fame as the filming location for Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001), starring Angelina Jolie. The iconic scenes of the adventurer navigating through tree-covered ruins were shot here, and many visitors come specifically to see the "Tomb Raider tree" — an enormous silk-cotton tree draped over the gallery entrance. Unlike other temples that have been extensively restored, Ta Prohm was deliberately left to show the natural process of jungle reclamation. Conservation efforts focus on stabilizing the structures while preserving the harmonious relationship between stone and tree. This philosophy makes Ta Prohm a unique monument where archaeology meets living nature.