Ta Phrom – location for Tomb Raider
Ta Prohm, a temple about 3km NE of the main Angkor Wat complex, has been left largely unreconstructed and is being conserved as a partial ruin. This has been intentional, to preserve the photogenic and atmospheric experience so that the tourist may imagine themselves as an early (white, western) explorer
It is a temple built in the Bayon style largely in the late 12th and early 13th centuries and originally called Rajavihara
The design of Ta Prohm is that of a typical “flat” Khmer temple (as opposed to a temple-pyramid or temple-mountain, the inner levels of which are higher than the outer). Five rectangular enclosing walls surround a central sanctuary. Like most Khmer temples, Ta Prohm is oriented to the east, so the temple proper is set back to the west along an elongated east-west axis.
The temple of Ta Prohm was used as a location in the film Tomb Raider. Although the film took visual liberties with other Angkorian temples, its scenes of Ta Prohm were quite faithful to the temple’s actual appearance, and made use of its eerie qualities.
Sunset from Pre Rup Temple
Billed as a must do – my reaction – total waste of time!!!
The air was so polluted, the sun sank into a haze, rather than a glorious sunset. There was quite a crowd at the top of the temple, and nearly everyone left before full sunset.
A sensible alternative would have been to stay at ground level and get the hazy sun as a backdrop to the temple.
As good as it got
The night ended on a great high over dinner, celebrating Sue and Pete’s 40th wedding anniversary with them (on Valentine’s Day no less), with a special cake provided by Vuttha.
