Ta Prohm

After ascending the Cambodian throne in 1181 AD, Jayavarman VII embarked on a massive construction and public works project. Rajavihara ("Royal Temple"), known today as Ta Prohm ("ancestral bull"), was one of the first temples to be established under the program. A stele commemorating the foundation gives a date of 1186. Jayavarman VII built Rajavihara in memory of his family. The main image of the temple, which represents the personification of wisdom, the Prajnaparamilta, is modeled after the king's mother. The north and south satellite temples in the third enclosure are dedicated to the king's guru and his older brother, respectively. Ta Prohm thus formed a complementary pair with the temple monastery of Preah Khan, consecrated in 1191. The main image of this temple represents the benevolent Bodhisattva of Lokesvara and modeled after the king's father. The temple's stele records that it was home to more than 12,500 people (including 18 high priests and 615 dancers), and that 80,000 spirits from the surrounding villages worked to provide services and supplies. The stele also points out that the temple accumulated considerable wealth, including gold, pearls, and silk. The expansion and addition of Ta Prohm continued until the reign of Srindravarman at the end of the 13th century.

Give up and recover

After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 15th century, the Ta Prohm Temple was neglected and neglected for centuries. When efforts to preserve and restore Angkor temples began in the early 20th century, the École française d'Extrême-Orient decided to leave Ta Prêm largely as it was found as a "concession to common taste". Picturesque". According to pioneering Angkorian Maurice Glaize, Ta Prohm was chosen because "it is one of the most impressive temples and the most fused with the jungle, but not yet to the point of becoming part of it." Nevertheless, much work has been done to stabilize the ruins, allow access and "keep this apparent state of neglect". However, as of 2010, authorities appear to have started a more active approach to restoration. All plants and shrubs have been removed from the site. has been removed from the site and some trees are also being removed cranes have been erected and much building work is underway to restore the temple much work appears to be rebuilding the temple from scratch as with other sites wooden walkways, platforms and rope railings Installed around the site, it blocked previously famous postcard photo opportunities.

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