S1 E71 | Exploring Angkor temples (Part 1) – Ta Prohm, Preah Ko, East Mebon and More

Our Angkor journey continued today with a mix of temples—some reclaimed by nature, others beautifully restored, but all filled with centuries of history.

We began at a 12th–13th century Buddhist temple, built by Jayavarman VII. Much like the Bayon, its architecture carried the same grandeur, and inside, worship still continues today. The temple’s stonework is supported by large wooden structures to preserve it, but the spiritual energy here feels timeless.

From there, we reached Ta Prohm Temple, one of Angkor’s most famous landmarks. Known as the “jungle temple,” it’s been overtaken by massive roots and trees, making it both haunting and beautiful. Built by Jayavarman VII and dedicated to his mother, Ta Prohm is partly restored by India’s Archaeological Survey but still retains its wild, untouched charm. Walking through its crumbling halls, we could see why it became famous after appearing in Tomb Raider.

Next, we visited Preah Ko Temple, one of the few fully Hindu temples in this region. Archaeologists identified it as Hindu from statues of Shiva, Vishnu, Lakshmi, and Parvati once housed here. The main shrine likely held a Shiva lingam, with a Nandi statue facing it. Though many original idols are gone, the temple’s layout still speaks of its sacred past. Interestingly, Preah Ko was covered in forest until the 1930s, when French explorers cleared it.

We then walked to a small island temple, representing Mount Meru, the cosmic center of Hindu and Buddhist cosmology. Surrounded by a large reservoir, this shrine symbolized the “top of the world.” Even in ruins, with broken nagas and weathered stones, its cosmic design is evident.

Finally, we stopped at East Mebon, another Shiva temple built around the same time as Preah Ko. Both share similar architectural styles, but East Mebon once stood on an island, surrounded by water. Though the reservoir is dry today, the temple still looks impressive against the backdrop of Angkor’s vast plains.

We ended the day at a grand Buddhist temple with a moat, decorated with bridges, naga statues, and elaborate gates. Despite the heat that wore us down, standing before these temples reminded us of how much history and devotion still lives in every corner of Angkor.

From nature-wrapped ruins to intricate Hindu shrines, today gave us a glimpse of Angkor’s diversity—a world where Hinduism and Buddhism coexisted and where stone tells the stories of gods, kings, and centuries past.