Ta Prohm Temple close to Phnom Penh Cambodia

You may have heard of Ta Prohm Temple in Siem Reap, more famously known as ‘The Tomb Raider Temple’ due to it being the backdrop of the Hollywood movie ‘Tomb Raider’ with Angelina Jolie. But there is another lesser known Ta Prohm Temple just 1 hours drive from Phnom Penh.

Ta Prohm (sometimes spelled Ta Pruhm), is a smaller temple but just as impressive as the temples you find in Siem Reap. The biggest difference is you do not get crowds visiting this Ta Prohm. I visited this temple on the way from Phnom Penh to Sihanoukville, and I was the only visitor to the temple.

Ta Prohm Temple is located close to Tonle Bati Lake, just 1 hours drive south of Phnom Penh. The temple is built in the same Bayon style as the larger Ta Prohm Temple in Siem Reap. This temple in Tonle Bati was built back in 1200 AD by Angkor’s king Jayavarman VII.

There is a large outer wall around the temple grounds with the large, impressive front and rear gates. Within the temple grounds are a number of small temple buildings.

There are many intricate carvings all around the walls of the temple grounds. Most are in very good condition. It is best not to touch any of the carvings as oil from your fingers will deteriorate the carvings.

When you arrive at the temple grounds you need to pay an entrance fee of just US$1 per person. This fee is only for foreigners. Local Cambodians have free entry. There are some local woman around the grounds of Ta Prohm trying to sell things like incense sticks or just begging for money but they leave you alone when you are walking around the temple grounds.

The temple is still used by locals for worshiping and you will see inside the temple buildings fresh offerings of flowers and fruit as well as burning incense sticks.

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