Temples of Angkor - Cambodia - page 283

Ta Nei
Ta Nei OFFLINE MAP , 800m north of Ta Keo, was built by Jayavarman VII. There is
something of the spirit of Ta Prohm here, albeit on a lesser scale, with moss and tentacle-
like roots covering outer areas of this small temple. The number of visitors is also on a
lesser scale, making it very atmospheric. It now houses the training unit of Apsara
Authority and can be accessed by walking across the French-built dam. To get to the dam,
take the long track on the left, just after the Victory Gate of Angkor Thom when coming
from Siem Reap. It is possible to walk from Ta Nei to Ta Keo through the forest, a guaran-
teed way to leave the crowds behind.
Including the access walk, allow about two hours to visit Ta Nei. Close by is the new
Flight of the Gibbon Angkor ( Click here ) zipline experience.
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Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm OFFLINE MAP is undoubtedly the most atmospheric ruin at Angkor and should
be high on the hit list of every visitor. Its appeal lies in the fact that, unlike the other
monuments of Angkor, it has been swallowed by the jungle, and looks very much the way
most of the monuments of Angkor appeared when European explorers first stumbled upon
them. Well, that's the theory, but in fact the jungle is pegged back and only the largest
trees are left in place, making it manicured rather than raw like Beng Mealea. Still, a visit
to Ta Prohm is a unique, other-worldly experience. The temple is cloaked in dappled shad-
ow, its crumbling towers and walls locked in the slow, muscular embrace of vast root sys-
tems. If Angkor Wat, Bayon and other temples are testament to the genius of the ancient
Khmers, Ta Prohm reminds us equally of the awesome fecundity and power of the jungle.
There is a poetic cycle to this venerable ruin, with humanity first conquering nature to
rapidly create, and nature once again conquering humanity to slowly destroy.
Built from 1186 and originally known as Rajavihara (Monastery of the King), Ta
Prohm was a Buddhist temple dedicated to the mother of Jayavarman VII. It is one of the
few temples in the Angkor region where an inscription provides information about the
temple's dependents and inhabitants. Almost 80,000 people were required to maintain or
attend at the temple, among them more than 2700 officials and 615 dancers.