Ta Prohm
Temple Overgrown temple entwined with massive tree roots
Roots and trunks thread through Ta Prohm’s 12th‑century temple corridors, left largely unrestored to show collapse and recovery. Visitors seek dramatic photo opportunities and the interplay of trees and stone.
Ta Prohm is a temple in the Angkor complex of northwestern Cambodia originally built as a Buddhist monastery and learning centre in the late 12th to early 13th century. It is internationally known for the large trees that have grown through and around its stone structures.
What visitors also find - Ta Prohm’s layout includes outer enclosures, causeways and a central sanctuary complex typical of large Khmer temple-monastery sites; conservation work focuses on stabilizing both trees and masonry. Because of its popularity, early morning is the calmest time to explore the complex.
Built during the reign of Jayavarman VII, Ta Prohm served as a major monastic complex and was one of the largest temples in Angkor. Over subsequent centuries the site fell into ruin and was gradually reclaimed by the forest until modern conservation and selective clearing allowed visitor access while preserving the root-masonry interplay.
Located east of Angkor Wat and south of Bayon within the Angkor Archaeological Park, Ta Prohm is reached by the same park roads used for the main temple circuit.
- Dating and vegetation: Constructed in the late 12th to early 13th century under King Jayavarman VII as a Buddhist monastery and university complex; the site is famous for trees (mainly Tetrameles and strangler figs) rooted in and around the ruins.
- Best time to visit: Popular photography and film location due to the dramatic combination of ruined stonework and giant tree roots; best visited early to avoid the busiest hours.
What to See #
- Core temple complex: The main temple- monastery complex with tall galleries and inner sanctuaries left deliberately semi-ruined and intertwined with large tree roots that grow through the masonry.
- Enclosure and approach: Outer enclosure, causeways and subsidiary structures that show the original monastic layout and approach to the central sanctuary.
How to Get to Ta Prohm #
Ta Prohm is in the Angkor Archaeological Park, roughly 6-8 km northeast of Siem Reap town. The usual way to get there is by tuk‑tuk, bicycle or private vehicle from Siem Reap (about 20-30 minutes depending on traffic) and using the Angkor Park roads; entry requires a valid Angkor pass.
There is a small parking area and the temple is a short walk from the road; Ta Prohm is commonly visited together with nearby Angkor Wat and other Angkor sites as part of a full- or half-day circuit.
Tips for Visiting Ta Prohm #
- Aim to be among the first group in at opening or arrive right after the earliest Angkor Wat crowds depart; Ta Prohm is extremely popular and is noticeably quieter in the first hour of opening.
- Walk off the main path into the side galleries and smaller corridors - some of the most photogenic root-and-ruin scenes are found in less-trafficked corners that many visitors skip.
- Spend a little extra time on the site's shaded western and southern walks where tree roots frame doorways and scatters of collapsed masonry create quieter compositions away from the main tourist flow.
Best Time to Visit Ta Prohm #
Best visited in the dry season (November-February) for comfortable conditions and clearer trails, keeping in mind this is the busiest time at Ta Prohm.
Weather & Climate near Ta Prohm #
Ta Prohm's climate is classified as Tropical Savanna - Tropical Savanna climate with hot summers (peaking in April) and warm winters (coldest in December). Temperatures range from 19°C to 35°C. Abundant rainfall (1326 mm/year), wettest in September with a pronounced dry season.
January
January is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. The driest month with just 1 mm.
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February
February is warm with highs of 32°C and lows of 21°C. Almost no rain and mostly sunny skies.
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March
March is hot, feeling like 30°C. Light rainfall and partly cloudy skies.
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April
April is the hottest month, feeling like 33°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is hot, feeling like 34°C due to high humidity. Significant rainfall (140 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is hot, feeling like 33°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (169 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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July
July is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (188 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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August
August is hot, feeling like 32°C with oppressive humidity. Significant rainfall (188 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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September
September is hot, feeling like 31°C with oppressive humidity. The wettest month with heavy rain (271 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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October
October is warm with muggy conditions (dew point 24°C). Significant rainfall (193 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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November
November is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 21°C. Moderate rainfall (77 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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December
December is warm with highs of 30°C and lows of 19°C. Light rainfall.
