Ta Prohm’s trees are memorable, but the site is more than a picture of “nature reclaiming ruins.” It was a major Buddhist monastic complex, founded as a royal act of devotion, and is now an active field of Cambodian and international conservation. This guide covers its history, how to visit well, timing, tickets and what to look for beyond the famous roots.
Compare passes, pick a route and find every temple guide in our Angkor travel guide.
Opening hours, walkways and restricted areas are set by the APSARA National Authority and can change with conservation work or ceremonies. The details below were checked in September 2026; follow signs and staff directions on the day.
Conditions now
Ta Prohm
28°C
Showers · feels like 35°C
- Humidity 88%
- Wind 7 km/h
- Air: Good (AQI 33)
- TodayThunderstorms31° / 25°84% rain
- FriThunderstorms32° / 24°78% rain
- SatShowers32° / 24°63% rain
- SunDrizzle31° / 24°63% rain
- MonShowers31° / 23°70% rain
Updated hourly. Forecast and air quality by Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Conditions can change quickly in the wet season.
Historical orientation
Ta Prohm, originally named Rajavihara, “royal monastery”, was founded by King Jayavarman VII in 1186, early in his reign. A foundation stele records its dedication to the king’s mother, represented as Prajnaparamita, the Buddhist personification of wisdom. The same inscription lists the villages, people and goods assigned to support the temple, from rice and honey to cloth and ritual lamps, a reminder that this was a working institution at the center of a wider economic landscape, not an isolated forest shrine.
Jayavarman VII built at extraordinary speed. Ta Prohm belongs with Preah Khan, Banteay Kdei and the Bayon to the same late 12th-century program, and is best understood alongside them. See the Angkor Thom and Bayon guide for the capital he built at the same time.
Why the trees remain
When French archaeologists began clearing Angkor in the early 20th century, they chose to leave Ta Prohm largely as it was found, so that visitors could see a monument in the condition in which it was rediscovered. The giant silk-cotton and strangler fig trees that grew through its roofs and walls became central to the temple’s modern identity.
That choice brings a difficult balancing act. The same roots that frame the famous doorways also split walls and hold up collapsed masonry. Since the early 2000s, the Archaeological Survey of India has worked with the APSARA National Authority to stabilise galleries, rebuild fallen sections and manage the trees. Wooden walkways, props and fenced areas are part of that work, and barriers and routes change as it progresses.
Tickets
Entry is included in the Angkor Pass; there is no separate ticket. The pass is checked at the entrance, so keep it with you (and a passport for any child under 12, who enters free).
| Pass | Price (foreign visitors) | Validity |
|---|---|---|
| 1 day | US$37 | One day |
| 3 days | US$62 | Any three days within 7 days |
| 7 days | US$72 | Any seven days within 30 days |
Prices and validity last checked: 15 October 2026. Angkor Pass prices can change. Confirm the current price on the official Angkor Enterprise site before you buy. The Angkor Wat guide explains where to buy and the sunset rule.
When to go
Opening
7:30–9:00 am
The calmest window on most days, before tour groups arrive from Angkor Wat sunrise. Soft light and cooler air under the canopy.
Mid-morning
9:30 am–12:00 pm
The busiest period, with queues at the famous tree doorways. The shade makes the heat easier than at open temples.
Afternoon
From 3:00 pm
Crowds thin again and the light turns warm. Allow enough time before closing, because the site is larger than it first appears.
Getting there
Ta Prohm is on the “small circuit”, a short drive east of Angkor Thom’s Victory Gate and roughly 10 km from central Siem Reap. Most visitors arrive by tuk-tuk or car as part of a day that also includes Angkor Wat and Angkor Thom; see getting around Cambodia for transport options.
Drivers usually drop visitors at the west entrance and collect them at the east entrance, so you walk through the complex once without backtracking. Confirm the pick-up point before you go in.
A route through the temple
- Enter through the western gopura, whose tower carries the faces associated with Jayavarman VII’s building program, and walk the forest path toward the inner enclosures.
- Follow the wooden walkways through the outer galleries. They protect fragile floors and guide circulation; stepping off them can damage buried structures.
- Find the best-known tree doorways in the inner courts, where queues form for photographs. Take your turn, then move on so the passage keeps flowing.
- Look at the central sanctuary, deliberately plain inside. Its walls are pitted with holes that may once have held metal fittings or decoration.
- Visit the Hall of Dancers, a pillared hall named for its carved apsaras, and notice the conservation work around it.
- Leave through the eastern gate, where your driver is usually waiting.
What to look for
Devatas and doorways
Graceful female divinities are carved on many walls, often framed by collapsed stone or roots. Their headdresses and jewelry vary in detail.
Conservation at work
Props, numbered stones, new masonry and monitoring equipment show a monument being actively cared for. They are part of the story, not a spoiled view.
The “stegosaurus” carving
A small roundel on a doorway is often claimed to show a dinosaur. Most scholars read it as a familiar animal against a leafy background, a good example of the certainty the site invites and should resist.
Film fame
Ta Prohm appeared in the 2001 film Lara Croft: Tomb Raider, which brought many visitors. The monument’s real history is richer than any film set.
Visit with patience
Follow the marked circulation route, keep narrow passages moving and wait rather than climbing for an unobstructed photograph. Do not touch roots or stone, sit on fallen blocks or step over barriers; loose masonry can shift. Cover your shoulders and knees, as at every Angkor temple, and wear shoes with grip, because roots, uneven stone and wet walkways are slippery.
Notice doorways, devata figures, collapsed galleries, restoration supports and the sequence of enclosures. The trees are one chapter of a much longer story.
Frequently asked questions
How long do you need at Ta Prohm?
One to one and a half hours for a steady walk through the main enclosures, longer if you want quiet photographs or to study the carvings.
Is Ta Prohm the Tomb Raider temple?
Yes. Scenes from Lara Croft: Tomb Raider (2001) were filmed here, and the temple is still widely known by that name.
What time does Ta Prohm open?
Usually about 7:30 am to 5:30 pm, later than Angkor Wat’s 5:00 am sunrise opening. Check the current hours before you plan around them.
Should you visit Ta Prohm before or after Angkor Wat?
After is usual: sunrise at Angkor Wat, then Angkor Thom, then Ta Prohm. Reversing the order, or visiting at opening time on a separate morning, often means fewer people.
Official references: Angkor Enterprise (official Angkor Pass sales), APSARA National Authority visitor information, APSARA conservation work and the UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Angkor. Hours and access were checked in September 2026 and should be confirmed again shortly before travel.