Angkor Wat Temples - an introduction . . .

Ta Prohm   (late 12th century)

Ta Prohm is a quiet, sprawling, jungle clad, monastic complex, made famous by the Hollywood blockbuster ‘Tomb Raider’. One of Jayavarman VII’s first major temples Ta Prohm has been intentionally left as it was re-discovered by French explorers in 1860. The massive fig and silk-cotton trees that grow from the towers and corridors are testament to the destructive force of the jungle and demonstrates the awesome power of nature. In its hey-day Ta Prohm was extremely wealthy, boasting control of over 3,000 villages, having a huge support staff, and maintaining vast stores of jewels and gold. To explore Ta Phrom today involves climbing over piles of fallen sandstone blocks or crouching through narrow dark passages, whilst flocks of noisy parrots flit from tree to tree adding to the jungle atmosphere. Ta Prohm is almost universally accepted as the most romantic temple, and coupled with its unbeatable ‘tree-in-temple’ photo opportunities, it should be included in every visit to the magnificent temples of Angkor.

Ta Som   (late 12th century)

Ta Som is the most distant temple on the Grand Circuit. Small but classic, this Jayavarman VII temple consists of a relatively flat enclosure with towers much like the temple of Ta Prohm yet on a much smaller scale. The execution of the apsara carvings is better than many of the other late 12th century works, many of them showing an uncommon individuality in their faces and bodies. A huge tree grows from the top of the east gopura (gate), it is slowly destroying the gate but it makes for a classic photo opportunity. It is best photographed in the early morning when the sun is low from the outside of the enclosure.

Terrace of the Elephants (late 12th cty)

The Terrace of the Elephants is part of the walled city of Angkor Thom and was built by Jayavarman VII. The 350m long, 3.5m high terrace was used as a giant viewing platform for public ceremonies, greeting victorious returning armies, and also serving as a base for the King's grand audience hall. There are five staircases leading to the top of the terrace each one flanked by large elephant heads and furnished with naga balustrades. The walls are carved with various court scenes, including lions, garudas, and of course the famous parade of elephants complete with their Khmer mahouts.

Terrace of the Leper King (late 12th cty)

Close to the Terrace of the Elephants is another Jayavarman VII commissioned terrace, the unattractively named Terrace of the Leper King. The terrace was named after the statue of the Leper King that sits on top. However, why the statue is known as the 'Leper King' is less clear, some argue that when the statue was found its lichen-eaten condition gave it the appearance of leprosy, others have argued that it is a statue of an Angkorian king who in Khmer legend suffered from the disease. It is difficult to see for yourself as the Leper King statue sitting proudly on the Terrace today is a replica, the original resides in the National Museum in Phnom Penh. The Terrace is deeply carved with nagas, demons, and other mythological beings, and it is believed to have been used for royal cremations.

West Mebon   (late 11th century)

The West Mebon east wall is a small island temple built under the rule of Udayadityavarman II and is in a very poor condition, located on an island in the middle of the West Baray. The West Baray was an enormous reservoir 8km long and 2km wide, which experts claim would have taken 6,000 men over three years to complete. It still holds water today and has become a popular picnic and swimming spot. Only the eastern towers of the West Mebon remain relatively intact and they are carved with lively animals, the first Angkorian carvings of animals in natural, non-mythological scenes. It you walk along the shoreline of the island and look back you will see heaps of stones from the collapsed areas. The West Mebon is perhaps most notable for the discovery in 1936 of a large 6m long bronze statue of a reclining Vishnu, the statue now resides in the National Museum, Phnom Penh.

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