Ta Prohm's state of ruin is a state of beauty, which is
investigated with delight and left with regret.
Ta Prohm is locating southwest of the East
Mebon and east of Angkor Thom. Its outer enclosure is near the
corner of Banteay Kdei. It can be accessed by enter the monument from the west
and leave from the east entrance.
Tip: Ta Prohm is especially serene and beautiful in the
early morning. A torch and a compass are useful for visiting this temple at all
times. It was built about mid-12th century to early 13th century (1186) by the
King Jayavarman VII, dedicated to the mother of the king (Buddhist) replica to
Bayon style of art.
BACKGROUND
Ta Prohm is the undisputed capital of the kingdom of the
Trees'. It has been left untouched by archaeologists except for the clearing of
a path for visitors and structural strengthening to stave of further
deterioration.
Because of its natural state, it is possible to experience
at this temple the wonder of the early explorers when they came upon these
monuments in the middle of the nineteenth century.
Shrouded in dense jungle the temple of Ta Prohm
A Sanskrit inscription on stone, still in place, give
details of the temple. Ta Prohm 3,140 villages. It took 79,365 people to
maintain the temple including 18 great priests, 2,740 officials, 2,202
assistants and 615 dancers. Among the property belonging to the temple was a
set of golden dishes weighing more than 500 kilograms, 35 diamonds, 40,620
pearls, 4,540 precious stones, 876 veils from China , 512 silk beds and 523
parasols. Even considering that these numbers were probably exaggerated to
glorify the king, Ta Prohm must have been an important and impressive monument.
LAYOUT
Ta Prohm is among the largest of the monuments in the Angkor complex, the in scrimption gives an idea of the
size of the temple. The complex included 260 statues of gods, 39 towers with
pinnacles and 566 groups of residences. Ta Prohm comprises a series of long low
buildings standing on one level, which are enclosed by rectangular laterite
wall (600 by 1,000 meters, 1,959 by 3,281 feet). Only traces of the wall are
still visible. The center of the monument is reached by a series of towers
connected with passages. This arrangement forms a ' sort of sacred way into the
heart of the monument’; three-square galleries enclose the area.
Tip: Some areas of the temple are impassable and others are
accessible only by narrow dark passages. It is recommended to follow the plan
with a route and landmarks indicted or to stay with a guide to avoid getting
lost.
The boundaries of the exterior wall are recognizable on the
west by a stone entry tower in the shape of a cross, with an upper portion in
the form of four faces, one looking towards each of the cardinal points (not
shown on the plan). The approach to the west entrance of the temple is a path
through the forest. After about 350 meters (1,148 feet) there is a stone
terrace in the shape of a cross. Remains of lions, serpent balustrades and
mythical creatures lie scattered in the area. Walk across the terrace to the
vestibule of the enclosing wall. The view from this point is spectacular.
Every here around you, you see nature n this dual role of
destroyer and consoler; strangling on the one hand, and healing on the other; no
sooner splitting the carved stones asunder than she dresses their wounds with
cool, velvety mosses, and binds them with her most delicate tendrils; a
conflict of moods so contradictory and feminine as to prove once more if proof
were needed how well " Dame "Nature merits her feminine title.
The next causeway with serpent balustrades on each side
leads to an entry tower in the first enclosure around the temple. Inside, on
the right, niches along the inner wall contain images of the Buddha.
Return to the center of the vestibule, turn right and walk
through the courtyard to the annex building at the right. Continue walking
straight through the series of rooms and passages to a tower. The relief on the
horizontal beam is a fine representation of a scene from 'The Great Departure '
when the future. Buddha decides to leave his father's palace to live the life
of a monk, the gods hold the hoofs of his horse so those sleeping in the palace
are not awakened. Return to the courtyard and pass through an opening as
opening in the wall of the second enclosure (at the south end).
The roots of a tree grip the double row of pillars in this
gallery. Walk to the center of the complex, turn right and enter the entry
tower of the third enclosing gallery. The inner walls are decorated with
friezes of pendants, scrolls and figures in niches. Turn right again and walk
into the central courtyard of the temple.
CENTRAL SANCTUARY
Follow the plan and walk through the Central Sanctuary, recognizable
by its undecorated interior. The stone has hammered, presumably to apply a
coating probably of paint or gilt. Evenly spaced ' holes in the wall from floor
to ceiling suggest a covering of wood, stucco or metal.
Walk across the central courtyard towards the left (northeast)
and through the door of a gallery that is framed by the roots of a tree. Turn
left and walk through a dark passageway and a courtyard. Enter the aisle with
pillars, turn right, walk straight between twin towers and to the right into a
very narrow passage which houses the inscription of the temple. Return by the
same passage, turn right and continue straight, passing through a vestibule. The
false doors on the north and south sides of the large rectangular enclosure
with high walls are finely decorated. There are four small courts with
galleries and pillars (12). Ritual dances may have been performed in this area.
Walk across the courtyard and into the entry tower of the
enclosing wall, at the east entrance. It is in the shape of a cross with
pillars on the interior, four wings and two passages on the side. The walls of
these passages are decorated with relief. To the left there is a hall with
pillars placed close together. They probably provided the base for a structure
built of wood. Beyond are small rectangular cells, which surround the exterior
of Ta Prohm.
One leaves Ta Prohm by a path (400 meters, 1,32 feet long) leading
to the exterior enclosure where section of the wall are visible.
So the temple is held in a stranglehold of trees. Stone and
wood clasp each other in grim hostility; yet all is silent and still, without
any visible movement to indicate their struggle as if they were wrestlers
suddenly petrified, struck motionless in the middle of a fight, the rounds in
this battle were not measured by minutes, but by centuries.
