'Jungle temples' is a term used for those Khmer temples in Angkor and all over Cambodia that are not completely cleared from forests. In particular, the name refers to edifices the walls of which are overgrown and towered by giant trees. Several temple compounds have been cleared from undergrowth by conservationists. But only bushes and small trees can be removed easily, wheras large trees are sometimes intertwined and fusioned with the building structure in such a way that stone and wood, art and nature cannot be separated accurately any more. Actuall, such sweeping 'temple trees' themselves are worthy of protection now, though they are logged or cut orcapped if indispensable to safeguard the building structure or to provide protection of visitors.
Masonry strangled by roots in such a spectacular extent is a landmark of Cambodia. There are not many works of art framed by rootage outside of Cambodia, one rare exception is a head of a Buddha at Wat Mahathat in Ayyuthaya in Thailand.
The above slideshow keeps record of impressive examples of "temple trees" in various temples in Angkor and in other Cambodian temple town. For a list of those imposing monuments amalgamated with wood, please only scroll down, you will see the temple names and locations just below the image gallery.
That text below pays special attention to Cambodia's jungle temple par excellence, Ta Prohm in Angkor. We reveal the location of one more giant tree, besides those four trees that are seen on photo's of visitors again and again. That fifth huge jungle temple tree growing atop impressive architectural remains is rarely found by normal tourists, it's one more of our 'secret places'.
Masonry strangled by roots in such a spectacular extent is a landmark of Cambodia. There are not many works of art framed by rootage outside of Cambodia, one rare exception is a head of a Buddha at Wat Mahathat in Ayyuthaya in Thailand.
The above slideshow keeps record of impressive examples of "temple trees" in various temples in Angkor and in other Cambodian temple town. For a list of those imposing monuments amalgamated with wood, please only scroll down, you will see the temple names and locations just below the image gallery.
That text below pays special attention to Cambodia's jungle temple par excellence, Ta Prohm in Angkor. We reveal the location of one more giant tree, besides those four trees that are seen on photo's of visitors again and again. That fifth huge jungle temple tree growing atop impressive architectural remains is rarely found by normal tourists, it's one more of our 'secret places'.
List of Cambodia's 'jungle temples'
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Angkor is more than just one jungle temple. Indeed, it could be called a 'jungle temple town'. Nearly all Angkor monuments are situated in a forested areas. The photo shows the Prasat on top of the small pyramid Baksei Chamkrong, seen from the northern access path to the natural hill Phnom Bakheng.
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Angkor Thom Victory Gate
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Most Angkor visitors only cross the Victory Gate in their vehicles when driving from Angkor Thom on the Small Circuit Road to jungle temple Ta Prohm. But you can climb the city walls and enjoy the view or take a photo of the colossal Buddha face framed by the trees. The photo is taken from the southern side of the city gate. 500 m further south is the rarely visited Angkor Thom East Gate.
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Banteay Kdei in Angkor
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Banteay Kdei is not as forested as the neighbouring Ta Prohm, since Banteay Kdei served as a Buddhist monastery for a much longer period. However, there is an amazing tree on the western wall of the temple proper (second enclosure). On the photo it is seen with Banteay Kdei's central and western Prasat towers in the background.
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Angkor jungle temple Ta Prohm
Ta Prohm is the most famous jungle temple of Cambodia, since its edifices are overgrown by numerous trees of impressive size. This perfect amalgamation of culture and nature is unique in the world. The photo shows the western side of the third enclosure belonging to the temple proper. To learn more about jungle temple Ta Prohm scroll down to a separate article at the bottom of this page.
The photo with a meditating monk is taken at a tree on the western edge (northern section) of the third enclosure wall (exterior wall around the temple proper). When entering the temple compound from the west, you will find this tree after turning left just in front of the temple proper's east gate.
A wooden platform for posing like on this photo was constructed for the visitors in the western court inside the third enclosure. You will not miss it when taking the normal path for visitors.
Inside the same third enclosure you can have a look at the southern wall of the second enclosure. This is a less frequented place, but even nicer for posing for a photo in front of a jungle temple tree.
A wooden platform for posing like on this photo was constructed for the visitors in the western court inside the third enclosure. You will not miss it when taking the normal path for visitors.
Inside the same third enclosure you can have a look at the southern wall of the second enclosure. This is a less frequented place, but even nicer for posing for a photo in front of a jungle temple tree.
Exterior Northern Gatehouse of Ta Prohm
The children posing for this photo play inside the North Gate of Ta Prohm, or to be more precise: the temple compound's 5th northern Gopuram. Not many tourists visit this place, although it's easy to find by simply running along the outer walls of Ta Prohm at the northern side. It's a pretty charming site, a forgotten part of Angkor's jungle temple.
This is to say, the exterior North Gate of Ta Prohm, though belonging to the famous jungle temple, is still off the beaten track. Here you can not only take a photo of a Buddhist face tower with impressive roots of a tree growing on that tree, but really enjoy the mystery of Angkor in tranquillity.
Don't miss to have a look into the rootage, it surrounds a Devata relief. Devata sculptures are often called Apsaras by touristes. This is the only place in Angkor where you can see a whole Apsara figure framed by living wood, but you will not easily recognize it on the photo.
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Every Angkor tourist group takes photos of the Tetrameles tree growing on the east gate of the fourth enclosure. You will not miss it when walking from Ta Prohm's temple proper to the car park at the eastern entrance. But you have to be patient. Many tourists wait for an opportunity to take a photo in front of the roots.
Inside the third enclosure there is another Tetrameles on an edifice, you must walk to the north-eastern corner of this court to see the spectacular side as on the photo. On the other side of the same tree (along the main path for visitors) you can see some buttresses to prevent building and tree from collapsing.
For a photo of the back of Angkor's most famous strangler fig you have to climb to the top of the roofs. Be aware, many stones are shaky here.
The very same strangler fig you have seen in most Angkor picture books covers walls and roofs at different courtyards, this photo is taken in the second and not in the first enclosure.
In another courtyard of the second enclosure you can see more roots of the same tree framing the head of an Apsara. The main tourist path leads along this courtyard, so you can take this photo without too much effort.
However, it is the central first enclosure that has the most spectacular view of this Ta Prohm strangler fig. Here you will take a photo of a setting of the movie Tomb Raider 1.
Leaving the central court (first enclosure) westwards you arrive at one court of the second enclosure with Ta Prohm's most spectacular Tetrameles tree. Be aware, that busgroups frequent this place along the main path for their photos.
A smaller Tetrameles tree grows just on top of the northern part of the second enclosing wall. The photo is taken from the other side, from the western courtyard of the third enclosure.
The separating corridor between the central main temple and its southern satellite temple is crowded with trees. Many tourists miss this photo because walking around in the southern part of Ta Prohm is a little bit more strenuous.
Inside the court of the southern satellite temple, which belongs to Ta Prohm's third enclosure, you will find a Tetrameles root of recordbreaking diameter, but in a narrow space, so it is not easy to take a photo.
Strolling around in this area you will find many more photo opportunities. The best time for visiting Ta Prohm, in case you like to be undisturbed, is the very early morning. But sunshine will enlighten the roots not before 9 a.m.
However, the southern area remains a quiet place all day long, so you can not only take a photo here, but really enjoy the atmosphere of this most amazing jungle temple of the world, Ta Prohm.
The remote south side of the temple proper (third enclosure) is overgrown by several more impressive trees for photos of wood conquering stone.
Preah Palilay in Angkor
In the forest behind the Terrace of the Leper King at the main square of Angkor Thom, you will find Preah Palilay. Five trees grew on the slopes of the small pyramid, two on the north side, the photo shows those on the south side. They had to be capped, because the structure is unstable. However, sapplings already sprout again from the trunks.
Ta Som in Angkor
One of the most celebrated fairytale jungle temple trees grew on the eastern gate of Ta Som. However, it died decades ago, this means, it is not growing any more and starts to decay and will fall down (or has to be capped) in a not too far away future. So take your photo soon.
Preah Khan in Angkor
Preah Khan's temple proper is even larger than that of Ta Prohm, but has not as many jungle temple trees inside its courts. Don't miss to visit the northern sattelite temple (instead of only walking along the east-west axis), not only to take this photo, but to see some of the loveliest lintel carvings, too.
Have a look to the photo and see why this tree had to be capped in recent years. It would have collapsed and destroyed the edifice or even injured visitors otherwise. It was dangerously inclined to the east.
However, the most impressive jungle temple tree of Angkor is not at Ta Prohm, but at Preah Khan, and actually it is not one tree, but two that share their roots. One tree died, one is still alive. The roots became part of the pillars, now helping to bear the roof. This ensemble is simply breathtaking. You will find something like this nowhere else in the world outside Cambodia. You can take a photo with a lion guardian in front of the trees here.
Baphuon in Angkor
Admittedly, the Baphuon is an imposing pyramid, but not really a jungle temple. However, the photo proves there is a part of the enclosure wall surmounted by a tree. You will not miss it at the back of Baphuon when walking to the nearby Phimeanakas pyramid inside the compound of the Royal Palace.
Prasat Sampeau near Angkor
Prasat Sampeau is a rarely visited place in the vicinity of Angkor, hidden in a grove and overgrown b the thicket. Not much sunshine can reach this temple for your photo.
Prasat Sralao near Angkor
There is not much to see for a photo at Prasat Sralao west of Angkor. Some doorframes are the only remains of a former Mandapa hall.
Only one of erstwhile three Prasat towers is still (half) upright at Prasat Sralao. Its roof collapsed, this photo will tell you why.
Go to the back of the same temple tower to see the jungle's triumph over man's work for eternity. The photo is from the west, from where you will have a better access path than from the east.
Prasat Prey at Angkor
There are two "Prasat Preis" in Angkor, one is close to Preah Khan, the other one, sometimes spelt "Prasat Prey", is a few kilometres further west and very difficult to find. But the photo is from the remote one or, more precisely, from its collapsed entrance gate.
Banteay Thom at Angkor
Even farer away, but in the same direction, is your perfect jungle temple in case you expect this: very difficult to find, very difficult access pathes after rainfall, very difficult to forget the experience of discovering the unknown. The photo can not give an adequate impression of the magic atmosphere of this remote site. See and read more on our page "Angkor Secret Places".
Ta Nei in Angkor
For those who have no time or energy to explore the vicinity of Angkor, there is one comfort: There is an untouristed jungle temple right in the core of Angkor, too, just north of Ta Prohm. Okay, it's much smaller and its trees are less spectacular. But the advantage of the temple shown on this photo is: noisy busloads will never reach this site 1.5 km away from the paved road of the Small Circuit.
Phnom Bok at Angkor
Look at the photo. This jungle temple dream can come true, for you alone. But you have to climb 600 steps, because this temple is situated atop Angkor's highest hill. It is a few kilometres east of Banteay Samré. Phnom Bok does not see many visitors, but every visitor falls in love with it.
Chau Srei Vibol near Angkor
East of Angkor there is a huge compound called Chau Srei Vibol. A group of buildings in ruins is on top of a small natural hill. One tree cracked the northern enclosure wall, its roots on the north side of this wall can be seen on the photo.
The other photo shows the same tree, only from the inner side of the former temple courtyard. Another picturesque ruin is at the southern foot of the hill.
Beng Mealea
Tourists talking about the remote jungle temple outside Angkor usually mean Beng Mealea (Bang Melea). The complex is even more densely overgrown than Ta Prohm in Angkor, but single trees are not as imposing. Don't believe guidebooks or websites recommending this as an untouristed place. It was one some years ago. However, it is huge and amazing and really worth a visit. The photo shows only a very small part of the vast complex.
Beng Mealea has a wooden pedestrian walkway. But some areas can only be reached with some effort, for example this northeastern library building shown on the photo.
Preah Khan Kampong Svay
Did you know there are Buddhist face tower temples outside Angkor? There are even two, and both of them are huge, Banteay Chhmar in north-eastern Cambodia and Preah Khan in Preah Vihear Province (Prasat Bakan). The latter has the vastest temple compound of the world, 5 km diameter. The photo shows Prasat Preah Strung at the eastern entrance.
Some parts of the compound were cleared, but trees on walls, like that on the photo, will not be removed.
The core area of Preah Khan Kampong Svay will surprise you with one of the most picturesque jungle temple trees of Cambodia. Have a look at the photo, see, that's not a mere tree, that's an edifice.
Koh Ker
If there was no Angkor in Cambodia, every tourist would travel to Koh Ker, but because of Angkor only very few visit Cambodia's No 2 temple town. Koh Ker can be called a whole jungle city. However, there is one temple in particular, Prasat Pram, that is the bid stuff of jungle temple. The first photo shows only one of two overgrown Prasats.
The true Koh Ker fairytale the Prasat in the north-west corner of the Prasat Pram complex. Maybe you forget this name Prasat Pram, but you will never forget this picture.
Sambor Prei Kuk
Last not least there is a Cambodian jungle temple town even older than Angkor. Its name is Sambor Prei Kuk. It is within only one hour driving distance from Kampong Thom, which is located halfway between Siem Reap and Phnom Penh. Sambor Prei Kuk's classic temple complex is called South Group. The photo shows what was once the eastern gate to this temple compound.
Sambor Prei Kuk's largest temple complex is the North Group. The two unimaginably intriguing jungle temples of Sambor Prei Kuk belong to this temple group, but they are located not in the core area of this group, but further north, on the opposite side of the access road. Don't worry, you will not miss the temple shown on this photo, it is visible from the road just before you arrive at the main car park.
The name of this single Prasat is Prasat Chrey. The second photo shows the south-eastern corner of the very same temple.
Many tourists miss the second impressive jungle temple tree only 1 km further north, but really hidden in the jungle, though easily to reach by a jungle path. The first photo shows the eastern entrance of Prasat Luong Chom Bok.
You can see the north-west corner of this second phantasy movie temple of Sambor Prei Kuk on the second photo of Prasat Luong Chom Bok.
Outside Cambodia
Maya temple towns in Guatemala and Mexico are situated much deeper in the jungles than Angkor in Cambodia. But you will not find such impressive trees growing on works of art anywhere else outside Cambodia. There is one exception from that rule. After the fall of Angkor, Ayyuthaya (Ayuthiya) in Thailand became the new dominating city of Southeast Asia. By the way, Ayyuthaya became the heir of Angkor in many respects. Beyond doubt, it is an impressive temple town, too, but not at all in a jungle. However, in Ayyuthaya's temple Wat Mahathat you can take a photo of that kind nearly everyone expects to be from Cambodia. Admittedly, the tree of that Wat Mahathat is unbelievable photogenic and simply great, and Thailand is great, too. So why not combine Ayyuthaya with visiting us in Siem Reap?
