Ta Prohm — The Temple Where the Jungle Wins

Among all the temples of Angkor, Ta Prohm (Ta Prohm) is undoubtedly the most iconic.

Built in 1186, it once served as a major spiritual and cultural center of Khmer life. According to historical records, the temple complex was home to 12,640 residents, including 18 high priests, 2,740 clergy members, 2,232 assistants, and 615 dancers. Ta Prohm oversaw 3,140 villages with a combined population of 79,365 people, and even maintained 102 hospitals.
(That’s one hospital per 778 people—in the 12th century! Absolutely astonishing.)

Yet none of this is what made the temple world-famous. Its global fame arrived in 2001, when Lara Croft: Tomb Raider starring Angelina Jolie was filmed here. After the movie’s release, crowds began pouring in, and locals affectionately nicknamed Ta Prohm “Angelina Jolie’s Temple.” A perfect fusion of ancient history and modern pop culture. Jolie herself was so touched by Cambodia that she later adopted a Cambodian child—giving hope to dreamers around the world, up to age 50. 😉

We also couldn’t resist visiting this legendary site. As you walk toward the entrance, musicians playing ancient Khmer instruments create a mystical atmosphere, making you feel like you’re stepping back in time.

The structure near the entrance serves as both the starting and ending point of your visit. Wooden walkways guide you through the complex, eventually leading you back to the same gate.

The entrance towers resemble Hindu-style gateways—a reminder of the strong connection between Khmer and Hindu culture. Informational plaques note that the restoration work at Ta Prohm is carried out jointly by India and Cambodia. A well-deserved karmic bonus to India for preserving its cultural heritage abroad.

And now to the heart of it: Ta Prohm is famous because the jungle has swallowed it. Massive trees grip the ancient stone walls with their roots, slowly but relentlessly reclaiming what once belonged to nature.

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In many places the ancient structures are partially collapsed; piles of stones lie where buildings once stood. But the most breathtaking sights are the enormous roots that seem to whisper: “Nothing is eternal. Nature always takes back what is hers…”

Look how one tree root pierces the stone wall, pushing apart the blocks with overwhelming force. And where the roots cannot break through, they simply grow around the structure, embracing it like a living sculpture.

On the next photos you can see the “victorious trees”—the ones that managed, over several centuries, to tear entire buildings apart.

Still, the Khmer people don’t give up. They try to rebuild parts of the temple from the fallen stones. We view these attempts with a bit of skepticism—after all, as seasoned Tetris players, we know that assembling a temple from scattered blocks would be a fun challenge. 😉

Of course, we couldn’t ignore the reason why Ta Prohm is often called “Angelina Jolie’s Temple.” Here’s the famous movie sequence that made this place iconic.

The film locations are especially popular with large tour groups—often 40–50 people from China. We were lucky to catch a moment with only a few tourists around.

Naturally, we had to take a photo there too.

And admit it—our own Lara Croft is no less impressive than the Hollywood original!

As we wandered through the complex, we found a slightly strange-looking lion statue, swung on jungle vines, and studied ancient bas-reliefs. Some carvings were worn by time, but still preserved the elegance of Khmer craftsmanship.