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Founding
Ta Prohm was founded as a royal monastery in 1186
Jayavarman VII began a massive program of construction in 1186, and Rajavihara, today known as Ta Prohm, was one of the first temples founded. Its main image, Prajnaparamita, was modelled on the king's mother.
The people
The stele records more than 12,500 people living on site
The temple's stele records a population of more than 12,500, including 18 high priests and 615 dancers, with an additional 80,000 inhabitants in the surrounding villages. It also notes gold, pearls and silks.
12,500people on site, with 80,000 more in surrounding villages
The trees
The temple was built without mortar, and trees took root in the stones
The temple was built without mortar and, after it was abandoned, trees took root in the loosened stones. The trees growing out of the ruins are perhaps the most distinctive feature of Ta Prohm.
“...one of the most imposing [temples] and the one which had best merged with the jungle, but not yet to the point of becoming a part of it”
Maurice Glaize, Angkor scholar
As found
Conservators chose to leave it largely as it was found
When conservation of the Angkor temples began in the early 20th century, the École française d'Extrême-Orient decided that Ta Prohm would be left largely as it had been found. Much work has since been done to stabilise the ruins.
Day 2, morning
Next is Banteay Kdei.
More stories from this trip idea
The words are a retelling of the Wikipedia article Ta Prohm, and are shared under CC BY-SA 4.0. They are checked against those articles, and a fact that is not in them is left out.