Ta Prohm

Like other standout Angkor sights, Ta Prohm is included in the Angkor Archaeological Park admission ticket, available for durations between one day and a week. Many Angkor Wat tours or Siem Reap historical tours visit here, as do masses of independent travelers. It’s possible to tour Ta Prohm by bicycle, by tuk-tuk, by scooter, or in an air-conditioned car or minivan, often in conjunction with other Angkorian sites such as Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei, Banteay Kdei, Beng Mealea, Srah Srang, and Angkor Thom. History buffs will value the rich detail a guide can provide.

• Ta Prohm is a must for any visitor to Siem Reap, with particular appeal for photographers, Instagrammers, and history lovers.

• Ongoing renovation work and structural-protection measures mean that some of the most magical Ta Prohm shots are now only possible with Photoshop.

• Please don’t give money to child beggars: It encourages their families to keep them out of school, perpetuating a cycle of poverty. Donate to a street-kids charity registered with ConCERT Cambodia instead.

• Cambodia is a challenging destination for travelers who use wheelchairs. Due to stairs, Ta Prohm is not currently wheelchair-accessible.

Ta Prohm lies about 8 miles (13 kilometers) north of Siem Reap, within the Angkor Archaeological Park, about a 1-mile (1.5-kilometer) walk from Banteay Kdei and a bit farther from Srah Srang. There is no public transport to or within the park, so most travelers opt to join an organized tour or arrange a private driver or driver/guide with a motorbike, tuk-tuk, or air-conditioned vehicle.

Arguably second only to Angkor Wat as Siem Reap’s star attraction, Ta Prohm draws independent travelers and tour groups day in, day out, and all year round. It’s open from early morning to late afternoon seven days a week throughout the year. Your best chance of beating the crowds is to arrive as soon as it opens in the morning.

Once you look beyond the tree roots and the tumbled blocks of stone, the scale of Ta Prohm gradually becomes clear. During its heyday, it was a temple and monastery dedicated to the mother of the Khmer king Jayavarman VII. The spiritual epicenter of a city of more than 10,000 people, Ta Prohm was once home to more than 600 dancers and over 2,700 officials.

Ta Prohm was a Buddhist temple and educational center dedicated to Jayavarman VII’s mother. More than 80,000 people lived here or in the surrounding structures, including several high priests and dancers. The temple was built without mortar, and tree roots have grown in it for a dramatic effect.

Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) was filmed at Ta Prohm. The movie featured other temples in Angkor Wat, but they were digitally altered. Ta Prohm was not, and its true appearance is represented in the film. Loads of tourists visit Ta Prohm because of its fame in Tomb Raider.

No, they are different sites located about 0.6 miles (1 kilometer) apart. Angkor Thom is a different city with several temples inside it. Visitors to Angkor Thom can see the Terrace of the Leper King, Terrace of the Elephants, Royal Enclosure (Royal Palace), Baphuon, Phimeanakas, and more.

Visit Ta Prohm in the early morning or afternoon, when there are fewer tourists and beautiful light for photographs. It’s open from dawn to evening, so try to get here for sunrise. Most tourists head to Angkor Wat for sunrise, which means a quieter atmosphere here.

A 1-day pass costs US$37 and increases depending on the number of days you visit Angkor Wat and its temples (3- and 7-day passes are available, too). The passes don't have to be used on consecutive days; you have 10 days to use the 3-day pass, for example.

Yes, Ta Prohm is worth it. Take a guide or guidebook to learn about its history. The structure is unique, with fig tree roots growing into the temple. If you’re an Angelina Jolie fan, snap a photo in front of Ta Prohm, the temple from Tomb Raider.