Ta Prohm

Ta_Prohm_(III).jpg
Ta_Prohm_reclaimed_from_forest.jpg
Ta_Prohm_reclaimed.jpg

Name of Building

Ta Prohm

Town or City, Country where the building was originally established

Krong Siem Reap ,Cambodia

Date the building was designed and/or first built

Construction: Founded in 1186 CE
Abandonment: 15th Century
Rediscovery: Early 20th Century

Name of Architect, Builder, or Primary Patron Responsible

Khmer King Jayavarman VII
Abandoned when the Khmer Dynasty fell
Rediscovery and conservation efforts done by French archeologists

Culturally Specific Time Period

Bayan Period, Medieval South East Asia

Geo-Location

13.43488242203669, 103.8893645126216

Materials

Sandstone

Size and/or Scale of Building

The Entire Compound is 65 Hectares.

Architectural Type

Religious

Building Description

This Temple structure is an example of a Flat Temple, well known in the region. Consisting of a flat square base, walls surrounding it, a Gopura or entrance gate on each of the walls. These are stepped gates larger than the wall itself. Each facing the cardinal directions. The out facing surfaces of these entrances are decorated with Hindu and Buddhist imagery. Inside the walls are 5 more rectangular enclosures, one inside the next. At the center sits the main Temple, a rectangular main building with a stepped pyramid like tower raising from its center. Each enclosure has a similar smaller structure, including tower.
The outstanding detail that makes this temple so unique is it's relationship with the surrounding jungle. Unlike similar temples of this style, conservation efforts focused on keeping this temple in a state of disrepair, as the jungle had reclaimed much of its surface. Now visitors can observe as its courtyards and structures are adorned with both manmade and natural designs. Such as trees growing from between the stone blocks. The entire stone structure is covered in a slight layer of earth and moss.

Creative Commons or other copyright information

Image 1: Creative Commons

Image 2: Creative Commons

Image 3: Creative Commons

Student First and Last Name

Waldemar Barrios

Citation

Khmer King Jayavarman VII, Abandoned when the Khmer Dynasty fell , and Rediscovery and conservation efforts done by French archeologists , “Ta Prohm,” World Architecture, accessed June 28, 2026, https://worldarchitecture.artinterp2.org/items/show/41.

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