The Mysteries of Angkor Wat & Beyond (Part 2)

Walking through the rumble amongst the Ta Prohm gives visitors a feeling of an adventure in the likes of Lara Croft (in Tomb Raiders) and Indiana Jones. Unlike other Khmer temples,  Ta Prohm is left in its junglistic state offering visitors an experience founders  once had when the Khmer temples were first discovered.

Being one of the most celebrated temples after the Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm is also the work of Jayavarman VII dedicated to Buddhism. Rather different from the Angkor Wat, the temple consists of a long, low complex of buildings all standing at the same height connected by passages.

Exploring Ta Prohm gives us the best of both worlds- nature and architecture. The towering thousand year old trees, creeping plants and moss covered relics in the temple makes it distinctively unique showcasing the magnificence of nature standing beside the grandeur structure of the man-made temple. Overtime, both have somehow blend in perfect harmony.

Over the years, the spectacular roots have also spilt massive stones into rumble and cracked vaulted passageways, giving us a sense of awe of the strength of Nature as they cave into the temple grounds. 

Although being a much smaller compound compared to Angkor Wat, Ta Prohm charms visitors in its jungle setting of creeping vines and exploring through the corridors is nothing short of a mysterious and adrenaline pumping experience. 

Another one off my bucket list! :-)

TBC…

pics taken with a Panasonic Lumix Camera

Read The Mysteries of Angkor Wat and Beyond (Part 1)

The Mysteries of Angkor Wat & Beyond (Part 1)

The temples of Angkor have lured travelers to Cambodia for centuries, likewise i found myself in Siam Reap one day.

We arrived to a sunny blue sky, but not for long.
My first meeting with the Angkor Wat wasn't all that pretty with the rain pouring down.

It was the wet season.

While i was feeling grumpy about exploring the wet and cold temple, trudging in puddles of water in potholes; the rain did give the temple a different feel, adding a mystical energy to the Wat.

The children of Angkor, however took this opportunity to have fun, splashing in the puddles of water in pure bliss. That simple joy of the rain connecting them to their innocence was a pure joy to watch. 

Despite all that rain, my mood was lifted as I walked through the countless corridors opening up to courtyards in the temple premises. 

.. 

The rain was finally over, and everything started to glow...

I call it the "after rain" effect.

Walking in the temple, i imagined the time of around 800 A.D until the mid 15th century of how Angkor was at the heart of the powerful Khmer empire. Originally built as a shrine to Vishnu, the temple had been replaced by Buddhism and revived in the 13th century to Hinduism and now again back to Buddhism. The temple would have been close to perfection if not for the missing Bodhisattra heads stolen in the early days when the temple was first discovered; now leaving behind only the bodies of the statues.

The temple despite being covered in mould today is still enchanting with its exuberant carvings depicting the great Hindu Epics, the Ramayana and Mahabharata, standing harmoniously alongside statues of serene Bodhisattvas and Apsaras- the "celestine dancers" of Hindu mythology.

TBC...
pics taken with a Panasonic Lumix Camera.