I call it a dancing tree of life

It is a classic shot of one of the main entrances to Ta Prohm Temple, but sometimes cliché becomes iconic.

The Ta Prohm is somehow most known for its tall trees and solid root system entangled in the buildings structure.

But it is also one of the more challenging temples to explore, because the structure itself, the park around it and the entrance gates. The area is so filled with interesting details and unexpected turns and ideas. This is one of the temples worth spending some time studying.

Ta Prohm (Khmer: ប្រាសាទតាព្រហ្ម, "Ancestor Brahma") is the modern name of the structure. Originally it was called Rajavihara (Khmer: រាជវិហារ, "royal monastery"). It was built during the reign of Jayavarman VII, the great ruler who is known for Bayon, the final version of Angkor Thom city and other massive social public works like hospitals and safe guesthouses all over the realm.

It was a monastery and university, build to honour the kings mother, with the gates honouring his brother and his guru. At the peak of its operation, 12 500 people lived within Ta Phrom temple complex and appx 80 000 lived in villages around it, supporting the institution.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ta_Prohm

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The sunset warm temple by the icy blue pond

This temple complex in the north of Cambodia, on the border mountain range to the large northeast Isaan-region of Thailand, lays the levelled temple complex of Preah Vihear.

The name "Preah Vihear" comes from the Khmer words "Preah" (sacred) and "Vihear" (abode or shrine). The temple is also sometimes referred to as "Phnom Preah Vihear" (mountain of Preah Vihear).

The large temple complex was built during a century one thousand years ago. It has been a Cambodian World Cultural Heritage site for nearly twenty years.

As a tourist attraction, the temple is a popular travelling target with all the usual and some unique reasons. The location and the view and outlook of the surrounding areas are special. The combination of several Angkor art and architectural styles into one complex is very interesting.

It is a mountain temple, but the access is easy going after you have paid someone with 4x4 to drive you up. Not wheel chair accessible, but seniors and other who are able to walk can visit easily.

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