Kh 23 - Royal Temple for the Ancestor Brahma

"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"
- Maurice Glaize, an Angkor scholar.

Gigantic Kapok grew from little space between the gopura - as time passed this tree emerged from a little seed to one of the largest tree in a race to conquer the sun ray!

Be prepared to be amazed with this one of the kind temple! Enormous kapok tree and others that grew from the terrace and wall of Ta Prohm makes you feel that you're so small and wonder how's the Creator of this world made it! One of the must-see temple in Angkor site - one of the most photogenic temple, thus make this place full of visitor.

From left : the temple's hallway - showed the typical Khmer architecture; rest for a while with one of the lady patrol officer.

This temple was first named as Rajavihara means the Royal temple built by King Jayavarman VII around 1186 AD to honour his family. It represents Prajnaparamita, personification of wisdom - modeled after King's mother. Nowadays this temple simply known as Ta Prohm means 'ancestor Brahma'.

Several pictures that showed trees that have 'eaten' Ta Prohm! I try to take the best picture but a lot of people there make this so difficult. Everybody tries their best to take nice picture. Welcome to the age of Digital Camera and Video.

This temple was built as flat temple with marvelous Khmer architecture differ from others that follow pyramid model. Since the fall of Khmer empire in 15th century, this temple was abandoned, till early 20th century found by the French explorer. The temple was kept in its original state thus become a living time machine that showed us on how the forest took care of the temple in hundred years.

From left : libraries inside Ta Prohm - even lot of visitor can be seen in this picture! I have to wait 30-45 mins just to take turn to take this picture!

A trivia about this temple - it used in the Lara Croft : Tomb Rider as one of the scene in the film!

Hidden Apsara dancer - smile, awaiting for young explorer to discover it.