This Tree Root Temple in Cambodia is Overgrown With Strangler Figs That Make It Look Otherworldly

Nature’s spectacular takeover of an ancient Buddhist temple.

ta phrom angkor cambodia strangler figs 1

Ta Prohm or “Eye of Wisdom” is a temple near the city of Siem Reap, Cambodia, that was built largely in the late 12th century and early 13th century as part of a larger complex called Angkor Wat. It is also called the “Tomb Raider Temple” or the “Angelina Jolie Temple” due to its depiction in the film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001).

It was founded by the Khmer King Jayavarman VII as a Mahayana Buddhist monastery and a hub of education devoted to his mother. Approximately 80,000 individuals, including 2,700 officials and 615 dancers, were mandated to reside in or visit the temple. After the fall of the Khmer Empire in the 15th century, the temple of Ta Prohm was abandoned and neglected for centuries.

ta phrom angkor cambodia strangler figs 2 — Image credit: Diego Delso

Constructed without the use of mortar, the temple’s abandoned state allowed silk-cotton and strangler fig trees to grow and establish roots within the dislodged stones. The presence of trees, coupled with the temple’s lush jungle setting, has made it a highly sought-after destination for visitors to the region.

The Ta Prohm temple was intentionally preserved in its “untouched state” to showcase its original appearance when rediscovered in the 19th century. It is intriguing to observe the interdependence between the trees and the buildings, as the survival of each relies on the other. If one of them crumbles, they both die.