Ta Prohm's state of ruin is a state of beauty, which is investigated
with delight and left with regret.
 Location
: Ta Prohm is locating southwest of the East Mebon and east of Angkor
Thom. Its outer enclosure is near the corner of Banteay Kdei.
Access: 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 is ethereal in aspect
and conjures up a romantic aura. Fig, banyan and kapok trees spread their
gigantic roots over stones, probing walls and terraces apart, as their
branches and leaves intertwine to form a roof over the structures. Trunks
of trees twist amongst stone pillars. The strange, haunted charm of the
place entwines itself about you as you go, as inescapably as the roots
have wound themselves about the walls and towers', wrote a visitor 40
years ago.
 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 (1) 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 (2). Continue walking straight through
the series of rooms and passages to a tower (3). 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 (4) 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 (5)
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 (6) 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 (7) of a gallery that is framed by the roots of a tree. Turn
left and walk through a dark passageway (8) and a courtyard (9). 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
(10) of the temple. Return by the same passage, turn right and continue
straight, passing through a vestibule (11). 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 (13). 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 (14). They probably provided the base
for a structure built of wood. Beyond are small rectangular cells (15),
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.
|
