A week in Cambodia -11/18/2023-11/24/2023

Siam Reap-11/22/2023

Day 5- Ta Som Temple

Ta Som is the smallest temple at Angkor Wat (vast temple complex that was the heart of the Khmer Empire) and was famous by the large Fig tree growing on top and around the ruins.  Ta Som Temple was built at the end of the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII.  The King dedicated the temple to his father Dharanindravarman II (Paramanishkalapada) who was King of the Khmer Empire from 1150 to 1160. The temple consists of a single shrine located on one level and surrounded by enclosure laterite walls. The temple was left largely unrestored, with numerous trees and other vegetation growing among the ruins. In 1998, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) added the temple to their restoration program and started a 10-year long restoration program to make the structure safe for visitors.

Although Ta Som is part of the Grand Circuit, it is frequently skipped by tourists who are more interested in visiting the better-known sites in the park.

Designed to be entered from the east, Ta Som is surrounded by a moat and enclosed by three laterite walls which are broken by two sets of gopura (Monumental entrance tower).

 Ta Som has the distinctive features of most of the "Bayon Style" with the four faces watching over the 4 cardinal directions.  At Ta Som the smiling stone faces might be modeled on the face of King Jayavarman VII.

Our guide taking roll call before entering the temple.

As you can see the face on the main entrance in the South was eroded with time and you have to look very carefully to see it contour.  Once you enter, on the back of the tower the smiling stone face that is well preserved.

Here you can really see the sculpture of the smiling face on the back of the entrance.

The entrance gopura of Ta Som is a good example of well preserved tower depicting Avalokiteshvara (the bodhisattva of compassion).

The temple is tucked away in the forest and is very peaceful and less crowded.

Moat surrounding the temple.

Laterite wall surrounding the central sanctuary.

The central sanctuary

Over the past decade, the World Monuments Fund (WMF) has trained Khmer workers and conservators on the job and their work has made all four of the Temple’s entrances accessible to the public.

Ta Som was in semi ruinous state but thanks to WMF effort many sandstone blocks were repaired and allowing the safety for visitors.

It is amazing to think that this temple was built like 900 years ago and we can still witness the sculptures and work of that era.

Side view of the central sanctuary.

Corridors inside the central sanctuary.

Panoramic view of the interior compound.

This is the interior of the tower  and there are a lot of bats inside the chimney like.  If you look careful you see the bats that look like black blobs hanging on the walls.

Sculpture depicting of Avalokitesvara, the Bodhisattva  which is a person who is able to reach nirvana but delays doing so out of compassion in order to save suffering beings.

The carvings at Ta Som are in a relatively sound condition, although you will easily find many of them being defaced by Hindu fanatics, just like at almost all Buddhist temples constructed in the Bayon period. Ta Som‘s stone carvings are of higher-quality craftsmanship than those at other contemporary temples.

On the left a fallen pediment and on the right is an empty pedestral that used to hold a linga.

The inner center of the gopura.

Empty pedestal that use to hold a linga A linga, which is a symbol of the Hindu god Shiva, and was probably stolen a long time ago.

Lord Shiva is considered one of the most powerful gods in Hinduism, and temples dedicated to him often contain a Shiva Linga, which serves as a focal point of worship and represents all the energies of the world and beyond. 

The inner sanctuary built by the second Buddhist king of the largely Hindu ancient Khmer empire.

The charm of Ta Som is it is in semi ruined state but still nice enough to walk around and to image what it used to be.

Many of the carvings are in good condition and they display the fine execution for late 12th century works.

The East tower which is another gopura (entrance tower) in a cross-shaped and contain a small room in each side along with windows containing balusters.

Passing through the gopura.

We are now headed to the east of the compound.

Trees with rope like hanging from the trees.

The East Gopuram, which is now famous for it’s strangler fig, originally was the main gate of the sanctuary.The overgrown sacred fig tree caused considerable structural damage but it is creating a picturesque sight that has become one of Ta Som temple spot for pictures.  The tree was becoming too big and threaten the structure of the gopura so they cut off the top of the tree. 

Wooden support are installed to support the tree and stop the damage it is causing to the gopura.  You can see the colossal Buddhish faces in the back of the tree.

Hoa sitting around to enjoy the view of the area.

This part of the temple is in ruined and left the way it is.

A huge tree in the forest.

It is amazing to see how humongous this tree is.

We are now leaving the property and heading toward the exit.

We are now driving to the next site.

Next...Neak Poan Temple