Which sacred site in Cambodia was made famous by Angelina Jolie?

Maybe you were also fans of the Tomb Raider movie from the turn of the millennium, in which Angelina Jolie played the role of Lara Croft. The famous film, based on an even more famous computer game, was filmed, among other places, in Cambodia. The setting for the adventurous scenes was provided by the Ta Prohm temple, which is hidden deep in the jungle.

A spiritual place that breathes ancient life

Thanks to the film, we can today talk about the temple as one of the most iconic places in Cambodia. Its crumbling towers and walls are gripped by gigantic tree trunks and their root systems, which gives the whole place a very special atmosphere. While walking through the forgotten courtyards of the temple or inside its shady corridors, you will constantly be under the watchful eyes of stone statues of warriors and mythological beings. In this temple, you will simply feel like you are traveling back in time and discovering a forgotten civilization.

Although today the temple has been almost pulled from the clutches of the jungle for safety and accessibility for visitors, its appearance still most closely resembles what its ancient discoverers found among all the temples in Cambodia. Faded walls, crumbling structures, and moss-covered stones that ignite a lot of imagination and desire to explore in you.

Now nature rules the temple

The trunks and root system themselves are today basically the supporting structure of some buildings that would collapse without them. And it's no wonder, as the temple has stood here since the 12th century.

Throughout its history, it was a place for up to 12,000 people who served the Khmer ruler Jayavarman VII. He had it built with the intention of creating the largest temple in Angkor, which he dedicated to the memory of his mother. At that time, over 300 Buddhist deities were worshipped here. This lasted until the temple became a Hindu sanctuary.

You can admire Ta Prohm today when entering the famous Angkor. It opens at 7:30 and closes at half past six in the evening. So don't forget to stop by.

Are you interested in what else you can discover in Cambodia? In our articles, you will find several tips!

Source of the Tomb Raider photo: Austria Forum