Day trip to Ta Prohm Temple

Ta Prohm temple, or the Tonle Bati temple, is one of most population destinations for weekend day trips for Cambodians and visitors who are staying in Phnom Penh. This temple complex is one of the biggest temple ruins built during the Angkor period and is located closest to the modern capital of Phnom Penh.

Down National Route 2, only 35 kilometers from Phnom Penh, this resort area hosts the beautiful temple ruins and also a natural lake nearby. And one can enjoy a typical Khmer picnic made up by the local residents. The turnoff from Phnom Penh is marked by a large picture of a temple ruin on the right hand side of the road. There is a three kilometer entryway to reach Tonle Bati resort.
(roup1) Ta Prohm temple was built by the great King Jayavarman VII during the Angkor era in the late 12th and beginning of the 13th century and devoted to both Brahmanism and the Buddhist religion. The temple artistry follows the Bayon style. The temple area is smaller than the other temple at Angkor complex. But it boasts impressive laterite and sandstone structures decorated with beautiful carvings that are relevant to Khmer history.

Mr. Thorng Em, Director of the Takeo Provincial Department of Culture and Fine Arts, said "one of the unique bas reliefs of the Ta Prohm temple is the beautiful reclining Buddha on the top of the lintel of the door (gobora) of the main tower of the temple facing to the east. Inside this main tower there are two big Buddha statues in good condition."
He continued that the other Buddhist Ta Prohm temple was mentioned by an important stone script that was found at the eastern site on a lintel of the first door (gobora). This big piece of stone was interpreted by many Khmer scholars to say that the Ta Prohm temple was built from some pieces of the original stones from the other ancient temples in that area.
(roup 2) Mr. Sambo Manara, Professor of History at the Royal University of Phnom Penh explained that the Sanskrit script described the temple as dedicated to Buddhism. Then he continued that, a King Rudhravarman was crowned in Nonkor Phnom (Funan) Kingdom. This king was the son of King Jayavarman. Rudhravarman’s ancestors were the former king of Funan Kingdom, named Hun Tean and queen Souma."
From various scripts, we know that "During the era of the Funan Kingdom, Cambodia had diplomatic relations with China. The Funan King sent two Khmer Buddhist monks to China to help them translate the Buddhist Bible from Pali and Sanskrit to Chinese," Manara said.
"The monks names were Sankh-Pal Therak and Muntrea Sena. These two monks were the first Khmer religious ambassadors to China. There are several papers concerning this history and they vary very little and only about dates," Mr. Manara said.
H.E. Chhorn Eam, Minister of Religion and Cult, agreed that according to the ancient script, "Buddhism arrived in Cambodia during the pre-Funan Kindom through networks linked with Sri Lanka. And then, the Funan Kingdom introduced the Buddhist religion to China. But actually our Khmer civilization is one of the first to receive the Buddhist religion back in the early times of Buddha (3-4th century BC)".
(roup3) Mr. Chhorng Em, said "the Ta Prohm temple, was also dedicated to the Brahman religion as well as to Buddhism. There are many bas reliefs and lintels depicting such Brahma gods as Siva and Vishnu. For example, on the Southern and Northern doors, there are lintels with depictions of Vishnu and Siva."

"The one Avalokesvara at the south has four arms brandishing bible such as the magic wheel tool, Sank (shell), Dam-bang magic stick weapon, and a magic stone ball. At the Northern lintel, there is another Avalokesvara with 6 arms, all with tools," Mr. Em said.
"Vishnu is the most important of the three gods of Brahmanism. His function is to protect the earth and all its life. Another well known ancient myth of Brahmanism found here is the ‘Churning of the Sea of Milk’ as well as the Eyravanda elephant (a three headed elephant). Every visitor can see these at the garden on the eastern side of the 2nd Gobora (door). These are all in good condition," Mr. Em said.
The Ta Prohm temple structure is 42 meters long by 36 meters wide and over 12 meters high. Located in Tonle Bati village, Kraing Thhnong commune, Bati District, Takeo province. The entry fee is free for Cambodians, and 3$US for foreigners.