One of the major temples of Angkor, which was built by the Khmer Empire, under Jayavarman VII. This is a Buddhist monastery and a traditional Khmer structure.
This was the temple chosen by French archaeologist to be left in its "natural state". This was an inspired decision, and involved a significant amount of work into prevent further collapse and enough clearing of vegetation to allow entry.
The tree that have grown intertwined among the ruins are especially responsible for Ta Prohm's atmosphere. The plants take hold in a crevice, somewhere in the super structure of a building. The roots work their way between the masonry, so that as they grow thicker, they gradually wedge open the blocks. Eventually, the trees becomes a support for the building.
Ta Prohm is in much the same condition in which it was found. All in all, Ta Prohm has romantic appeal which was partly over grown and gently declinng trees. The photogenic and atmospheric combination of trees growing out of the ruins and the jungle surrounding have made it one of Angkor's most popular temples.
Angkor scholar Maurice Glazie said, " On every side, in fantastic over scale, the trunks of the trees soar skywards under shadowy green canopy, their long spreading skirts trailing the ground and their endless roots coiling more like reptiles than plants".