Harmony of wood and stone of Ta Prohm temple

It is difficult to convey the impressions of visiting such grandiose places as the Cambodian temple complex, but I can say for sure that every self-respecting traveler should visit this country and take at least a couple of days to visit the World Heritage Sites. A country that is very simple and understandable for independent travel, it can be combined with any Asian neighbor in this region, a visa - upon arrival, a budget - for every taste. A true open-air museum.

Just a few kilometers from the modern international airport in northwestern Cambodia are the remnants of the Khmer empire that have survived to this day - numerous temple complexes. A thousand years ago, life was in full swing in these places, but now there are only grandiose ruins discovered by Western civilization about 150 years ago.

On the plan of the Angkor complex, you can see several dozen temples, each of which has individual characteristics and is attractive in its own way. A tourist who is not experienced in historical matters may feel a little uneasy at the infinitely changing temperament (the English term is over-templed), but, in my opinion, the most ideal option is to rent air-conditioned cars with a guide-driver ($ 20-30 a day ) and without rushing to drive around, visiting all the temples. Bicycle options are popular, but this is in the winter when it is not hot and there is no rain.

In addition to the main Angkor Wat and Bayonne, it is highly recommended to visit the very expressive Ta Prom temple, which stands apart and popularized in Hollywood movies (Tomb Rider). The main feature is the presence of vegetation on the territory, as if the temple was not completely conquered from the jungle. Massive trees grow here and there, merging with walls and towers, hugging stones with gigantic branches and roots.

For several hundred years, the temple has lost many of its original features, and even after ennoblement it looks ruined. Unlike many temples with a pyramidal formation, Ta Prohm lies in the same plane and resembles a maze, you can only climb a low tower, and you have to walk along paths and turn your head.

These remarkable trees, towering above the walls and expressively braiding their roots, are called Tetrameles nudiflora. Huge trees with a massive base resemble centuries-old sequoias or oaks.

The roots and the temple wall merged and formed a single whole. The tree literally grew into masonry, and if you try to cut it down, then the stone structure itself can not stand it and will break up into blocks. Nature takes precedence over man, and without constant support the temple will lose its original appearance.

The walls and towers of the temples constantly "play a prank", strengthen, give a more decent appearance. It is necessary to maintain in good condition the attractions that attract more than 2 million tourists a year.

Patios are especially attractive. When there are no tourists around, there is a complete unity with nature. You can look at bas-reliefs, peek into niches, listen to the sound of trees, crouching in a shade under a massive trunk.

All the walls of the temples, like one big book, are painted with information in a graphical representation, guides talk about the many subtleties and features of these bas-reliefs. Almost everywhere, the images of the forever young and non-Asian full-breasted Apsar girls are played out. If you want to look at the materialized apsars of the local spill, then you can go to a dance show in one of the local hotels.

In addition to the dominant gray color, at times you can observe a game of colors that you can’t immediately understand: either it is the remains of the scenery from ancient times, or tinting modern sculptors. The local colony of green moss and reddish hues in places where sandstone blocks were used add brightness to the palette.

In addition to Tetramelia, the centuries-old walls of the temple are covered with numerous ficuses (Ficus benghalensis or Ficus gibbosa), and dozens of aerial roots extend from the main adult tree trunk, which rush down, braiding everything in its path and, having reached the ground, take root, nourishing the plant and giving it the strength to grow more and more up and in breadth. Ficuses with such a pronounced form of vegetative propagation are called banyan trees. The most picturesque landscapes can be observed when a banyan tree encircles an arch or a statue, hiding part of the bas-relief.

A small wooden bridge, laid through the wall and passing under the base of the tree, allows you to see how the tetramelia trunks make their way to the ground year after year, pushing the blocks apart and wriggling curiously along the joints of stones.

The central part of the temple. Piles of blocks here and there say that once the temple was in better shape. However, all this resembles such a creative mess, as if it should be so in an abandoned Khmer temple.

Many blocks are numbered, one friend of mine told me that in the middle of the twentieth century a lot of work was done to restore and preserve the temples. Scientists from many countries, mostly from France and Japan, sorted the churches into blocks, numbered them, made diagrams, and then assembled them again as a lego constructor according to the instructions. It sounds strange, since they couldn’t make out the tower into which the tree had grown, but nonetheless the numbers are present.

Thick roots braid the wall like the tentacles of an octopus. For the sake of these species, tourists tend to visit Ta Prom, although in comparison with Angkor Watt there are much fewer people, you can wander all alone in the early morning or afternoon.

A place popular for photography. In particularly impressive areas, small wooden corridors are installed, climbing on which you can take a photo against the background of this site.

Original treatment with an emphasis on wood, an unusual option. For lovers of photography at temples expanse, so many unusual and expressive objects. They say that there is a statue on one of the walls of the temple, with only a face visible through the roots. It looks symbolic, but could not be found this time)

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