Tah Prom Temple

Ta Prohm is up there with Angkor Wat and Bayon temple as one of the most visited temples in the Angkor Park. There are many reasons for it’s popularity, but the biggest reason is probably that is was used as the backdrop for the filming of the Lara Croft Movie – Tomb Raider.

The jungle is literally growing through the middle of the temple which also adds intrigue and wonder to this amazing site. Ta Prohm is on most people’s “bucket list” of temples in Siem Reap, so make sure that you don’t miss it.

It gets very crowded here, so keep reading our helpful Ta Prohm Temple Guide to know exactly when to come to avoid the large crowds.

Temple Facts

Location: Siem Reap, Cambodia
Built By: Jayavarman VII
Dedicated to: The Buddha
Style: Bayon
Style: Bayon
Best Time to Visit: Early morning or late afternoon
Length of Visit: 1-2 hours
Temple Pass: Required

Location

Ta Prohm is located in the heart of the Angkor Park just to the east of Angkor Thom. It’s along the main road which the Angkor Small Circuit Tour follows. Nearby temples include Ta Keo, Banteay Kdei, Kutisvara, Chau Say Tevoda and Thommanon.

Visit Location

Popular Culture

Ta Prohm is known as the “Tomb Raider” temple. In 2000, the Lara Croft movie was filmed at various locations in the Angkor Park including Phnom Bakheng, Bayon and Ta Prohm. Most of the filming was centred around Ta Prohm and the name stuck.

Accommodation

You’ll find many hotels in Siem Reap with the name “Ta Prohm” but none are near the famous temple! Hotels and modern structures are not allowed inside the Angkor Park and you won’t be able to stay near Ta Prohm temple. There are many hotels to suit all tastes and budgets in Siem Reap town. Most visitors to the temples will stay in town and use various forms of transport to get around the temples.

Why visit Ta Prohm?

As it’s one of the most popular temples in Siem Reap, it does get very busy. If you want to get some photos or escape the crowds then it’s best to visit very early in the morning or very late in the afternoon.

Many guests like to recreate photos depicting famous scenes from the Tomb Raider movie. Guests also like to try to find the stegosaurus carving by themselves as a sort of “treasure hunt”. If you can’t find it, you can always ask your guide to help you!

History

The original name for Ta Prohm was Rajavihara which means Monastery of the King in English. It was built in 1186AD by King Jayavarman VII and was one of the first temples built during Jayavarman VII’s prolific reign.

The temple was built in honour of Jayavarman’s family. Inscriptions tell us that main part of the temple represents Prajnaparamita which is the perfection of wisdom and relates to the king’s mother. The northern satellite temple in the third enclosure was dedicated to Jayamangalartha, the king’s guru. The southern satellite temple was dedicated to Jayavarman’s brother.

Ta Prohm was originally built as a Buddhist monastery and university. It was home to 12,500 people, including nearly 20 high priests and over 600 dancers. The surrounding villages were home to 80,000 people who provided services and supplies for the people living in Ta Prohm.