61. Ta Prohm - 2

Indiana Jones where are you?

Really you know, all we need is Indiana Jones and a bit of gung ho! and you could be right in the middle of a great adventure. Whizzing up that tree, leaping across to the red metal building bars on the other side - ah...this is the stuff that dreams are made of! I can just see myself in the role of whatsername - you know, the woman that screams all the time in his movie and him coming to the rescue - saving me from a fate worse than death!


Rock and rubble

You do need to watch were you're walking, there are so many massive stones, rocks and bits of building paraphernalia lying in assorted fashion as though they have been laid there artistically.

Above: Ta Prohm ruins
To the right were balustrades with carving at the top and bottom. If you enlarge the picture, you can see some in the far right.
Rather inconguous too are the four yellow workers' hard hats.

Above: Ta Prohm ruins
Large Banyan tree in the foreground.

Above: The leafy jungle
To give you some idea of the place, look at all the foliage. Now imagine that in an endless sea all around you, everywhere you turn. And when you crane your neck up to look at the sky - all you see is miles and miles of tree and leaves.

Above: Ta Prohm collage
You really are in another world seeing these giant trees taking over and growing out of the temple. Banyan, kapok and strangler figs spread and twist their roots over and under and around, their knobby roots looking like deformed snakes taking over everything it their wake.

Above: Floor plan of Ta Prohm

Did you know?
There is a Sanskrit inscription on stone, still in place, which give details of the temple.
Ta Prohm: 3,140 villages. It took 79,365 people to maintain the temple including 18 great priests, 2,740 officials, 2,202 assistants and 615 dancers. Among the property belonging to the temple was a set of golden dishes weighing more than 500 kgs, 35 diamonds, 40,620 pearls, 4,540 precious stones, 876 veils from China, 512 silk beds and 523 parasols. That's a lot of maintenance.



Ta Prohm
Date of Construction: Mid 12th/Early 13th century
Religious Affiliation: Buddhist
Patron or King: Jayavarman VII
Artistic/Archeo. Style: Bayon
Time to Visit: Anytime. Less crowded in the early morning. Good for middle of day due to shady trees.