Angkor Wat is a place of amazing architecture and beauty. We spent three days rushing around it and i still wish i could return for more time. This particular temple is fascinating as nature has begun to take it back as you can see.

Ta Prohm - Angkor Wat - Angkor Wat visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Ta Prohm - Angkor Wat' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Angkor.

Angkor Wat temple is the definitive masterpiece of classical Angkorian religious architecture, of such importance as a UNESCO designated World Heritage Site that it is represented on the national flag and it is the premier visitor attraction in Cambodia.

Khmer King Suryavarman II began construction in the 12th century intending Angkor Wat to serve as a his personal mausoleum and as a temple to the Hindu god Vishnu. The distinctive architecture is highly symbolic - a pyramid shape represents the structure of the universe, with the highest level at the center of the temple represented Mount Meru which is exalted as the home of the Hindu gods. The five towers on the next highest level represent the five peaks of the mountain. The broad moat around the complex represents the oceans that surround the world. Every facet of Angkor Wat is rich in meaning to represent intricate details of culture, history, religion. Mysteriously abandoned in the 14th century by the Khmer civilisation, the vast Angkor Wat temple complex (which covers an area the size of Paris city) became concealed within the encroaching jungle and lost to mankind until rediscovered by a French explorer in 1861 - delighting archaeologists and historians!

Ta Prohm temple is a special sub-complex of the Angkor Wat temple area, built later than the central Angkor Wat compound, by King Jayavarman VII in 1181, in Bayon style.

Beloved of photographers, Ta Prohm remains atmospheric and visually arresting - the Banyan trees growing out of the ruins and their giant octopus-like roots entangled amongst the stonework create an eerie and extraordinary scene. As the only temple to be carefully maintained in this manner, Ta Prohm has been allowed to remain in this state of "apparent neglect" appearing as though the jungle of giant Silk Cottonwood and "Strangler" Fig trees has overpowered and reclaimed the land that man earlier stole for construction.

Carefully considered management plans have been put in place by modern-day Cambodian authorities, ensuring that Angkor Wat and Ta Prohm temples will remain the unmissable visitor attractions as well as key locations of intrinsic value to the nation's heritage. Popularity has also been enhanced as exposure in the media draws in visitors, such as Ta Prohm temple being used and faithfully represented as a scene setting in the Hollywood film, "Tomb Raider", in 2001.

As stated by UNESCO: Province Siem Reap, N13 26 E103 50

East of Phumi Thmei on highway 6, turn north on highway 66 to the Angkor Wat area. Ta Phrom is at the north-west corner of the area.