Information
Landmark: Ta Prohm of Tonle BatiCity: Takeo
Country: Cambodia
Continent: Asia
Ta Prohm of Tonle Bati, Takeo, Cambodia, Asia
Overview
Ta Prohm of Tonle Bati is a modest but essential temple tucked inside the historic grounds of Tonle Bati, just south of Phnom Penh, where the air smells faintly of warm stone and dust, also often mistaken for the better-known Ta Prohm in Siem Reap, this temple rose from the red earth between the late 12th and early 13th century, during the reign of King Jayavarman VII-the Khmer ruler who filled his empire with Buddhist monuments like Angkor Thom and the Bayon.Ta Prohm at Tonle Bati was built in the Bayon style, the same graceful stonework you notice at the temples of Angkor, alternatively it was built as a Mahayana Buddhist temple, yet, like many Khmer sites, it carries touches of Hindu design-carvings of lotus petals beside scenes of ancient deities.The temple honors Buddhism, yet its weathered carvings and ornate lintels still display Vishnu, Shiva, and other Hindu gods, in turn over the centuries, the temple’s been rebuilt and altered, yet its doors still open each morning to welcome worshippers.The main sanctuary is built from warm-hued laterite and pale sandstone, and its towers still rise in remarkably good shape, therefore the central tower brims with intricate carvings-Buddhist figures with serene faces, graceful Apsaras frozen mid-dance, and vivid scenes drawn from Hindu mythology.The entrance gopura, or gateway, is carved with delicate reliefs-faces, vines, and curling stone patterns-typical of the Bayon period, also while some structures bear the scars of erosion, the temple still stands in surprisingly good shape, its stone steps smoother than others from the same era.Ta Prohm of Tonle Bati still serves as a living spot of worship, where local Buddhists often come to light incense and offer quiet prayers, moreover monks and locals care for it together, sweeping its stone steps and tending the lanterns, keeping its cultural and spiritual significance alive.Not surprisingly, Unlike the busy Angkor temples, it draws far fewer visitors, so you can wander its worn stone paths in peace and feel history almost whisper around you, what’s more yeay Peau Temple, just a short walk from Ta Prohm, is another Angkorian-era site, its name honoring a woman from local legend.Tonle Bati Lake is a favorite getaway, where families spread blankets under shady trees, take slow boat rides across the calm water, and cast lines for the day’s catch, in conjunction with Phnom Chisor Temple, built in the 11th century, crowns a hilltop and offers sweeping views of green rice fields stretching to the horizon.To get there, head about 35 kilometers south of Phnom Penh on National Road 2, where the heat shimmers off the asphalt, alternatively the best time to go is during the dry season, from November to April, when the skies stay clear and the air feels crisp.Foreign visitors need to pay a small entrance fee, just enough to cover the cost of keeping the gate open, and dress Code: Since this is an active destination of worship, visitors should dress modestly-think long sleeves and covered knees.Tucked beside Tonle Bati, Ta Prohm lets you step into Cambodia’s rich Khmer past, where weathered stone carvings rest in silence and you won’t find the crush of Angkor’s crowds.
