Prasat Ta Prohm (Siem Reap)
| Native Name | ប្រាសាទតាព្រហ្ម |
|---|---|
| Alternative name | Rajavihara, Prasat Preah Reach Vihear |
| BA# | C1710127 |
| CISARK# | 396 |
| IK# | 534 |
| K Inscription | K.273, K.274, K.461, K.909 |
| Inscr. Location | In situ |
| Size | Large |
| Condition | Intact |
| Type | Temple |
| Location | |
| Part of | Prasat Ta Prohm, Yasodharapura III, Angkor |
| Commune | Nokor Thom |
| District | Krong Siem Reap |
| Province | Siem Reap |
| Country | Cambodia |
| Coordinates | 13.43493, 103.88948 |
| History | |
| Founded | Late 12th Century |
| Builder | Jayavarman VII |
| Art Style | Bayon |
| Material | Laterite, Sandstone |
| Religion | Buddhism |
| Deity | Buddha/Lokeshvara |
| Year/s Restored | 2013 to present day |
| UNESCO Inscription | 1992 |
Prasat Ta Prohm (ប្រាសាទតាព្រហ្ម - Pronounced: Pra-saht Ta Prom), is one of Jayavarman VII's, and indeed Angkor's, largest
and most complicated sites. Officially consecrated in 1186, (although many years of work must have been involved), under the name Rajavihara and dedicated to the King's mother.
East-facing Ta Prohm is a flat, rather than a pyramid, style temple with 5 concentric enclosures - the outer of which is a vast 650m x 1000m. The main temple is off-set well to the west of the enclosure with a long eastern entrance causeway lined with what appears to be a pair of Dharmasalas? The northern one, Prasat Ta Prohm Dharmasala is in reasonable condition while sandstone slabs and foundations on the south side of the causeway could represent a second, symmetrical, site. 4 gopuras, with the iconic carved faces, pierce the outer enclosure wall at the cardinal points. Archeologists point to numerous additions and alterations having been made up until as late as the 15th century (King Srindravarman) while traces of 2 moats (inside and outside the 4th enclosure) have led Claudes Jacques, among others, to hypothesize the presence of an existing temple within the inner moat, prior to Jayavarman's work.
The highly complex inner areas are made more so by the ruinous state of much of the temple - apparently a combination of nature and bad (hasty?) construction techniques. The ruins, trees and giant roots are of course what makes Prasat Ta Prohm so popular although current work on the site seems to us, in many instances, to cross the fine line between justifiable restoration and gratuitous reconstruction.
Much of the Buddhist-related decoration was defaced during the late 13th-century and many lintels and pediments are missing, damaged, or eroded. Needless to say, plentiful devatas and guardian figures, as well as apsaras in the hall of the Dancers, remain.
Numerous statues were discovered sitting in situ here when French explorers came in the early 20th century. One such sculpture is a male seated diety 'Lokeshvara' which sat prominently at Prasat Ta Prohm alongside a few other statues. The statues were obviously moved to the Angkor Conservancy for safe keeping at the time, though the seated Lokeshvara is now housed at the Angkor National Museum since 2007.
A hugely popular site and you'll need to get your timing right for a visit to this one.
Map Location
Image Gallery
A wooden platform has since been constructed in front of this hugely popular selfie spot
The iconic faces are to be seen at the 4 outer gopuras
Giant roots of the silver cotton-wood tree. (In the kapok family, not ficus.)
Another very popular selfie location in the north courtyard of the central enclosure
Western gopura
Teh congested and confusing central enclosure
Devatas
Detail from a pediment
Pediment on the ground at the east entrance
Lokeshvara pediment
Looking towards the central enclosure from the southwest corner of enclosure 2
At the Angkor National Museum
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Historic Archive
A collection of historic photographs, artist sketches, maps etc. (Please ensure that anything you do upload is free of copyright and/or you have permission from the original photographer/artist/author to share)
Nearby Sites
- Kampong Phae Thnal Baray
- Neak Ta Dek
- Prasat Banteay Kdei
- Prasat Banteay Kdei Khloung Thvear Khang Cheung
- Prasat Banteay Kdei Khloung Thvear Khang Kaeut
- Prasat Banteay Kdei Khloung Thvear Khang Lech
- Prasat Banteay Kdei Khloung Thvear Khang Tboung
- Prasat Chau Say Tevoda
- Prasat Kutisvara
- Prasat Leak Neang (Nokor Thom)
- Prasat Ta Keo (Siem Reap)
- Prasat Ta Mau (Nokor Thom)
- Prasat Ta Prohm (Siem Reap)
- Prasat Ta Prohm Dharmasala
- Prasat Ta Prohm Khloung Thvear Khang Cheung
- Prasat Ta Prohm Khloung Thvear Khang Kaeut
- Prasat Ta Prohm Khloung Thvear Khang Lech
- Prasat Ta Prohm Khloung Thvear Khang Tboung
- Prasat Thommanon
- Selacharuk Thnal Baray Piek Nirtei
- Spean Thma (Nokor Thom)
- Toe Toek Thnal Baray
- Tuol (Angkor) I
- Tuol (Angkor) II
- Tuol (Angkor) III
- Tuol (Angkor) IV
External Links
Links to additional resources such as articles, websites, videos etc.
References