Thank you to @HiroyukiTakisawa san for introducing this interesting topic of the tree in the neighborhood.
It always amaze me when I see big trees. This topic really sparks my interests in sharing you giant trees in Cambodia, especially those grown on ancient temples. I don’t think they are all banyan trees but many of them are.
Talking about trees on temples, it is no doubt, everyone knows about Taprum temple only. It was portraited in Tom Raider movie, starred by Angelina Jolie. Not all scenes are true though :). Actually, there are more temples that you can see such beauty of trees over temples. Below is the summary. I have visited them and saw how amazing they are. I believe you are aware of the temples in Cambodia that were built countrywide but do you know that throughout these years - trees have dominated on some of those temples? Here are places or temples where you see such scenes (categorized by province).
- Siem Reap province: (one ticket can be purchased and used for all temples in Siem Reap.
- Taprum temple - different shapes of giant trees at 4 different spots can be seen in the temple complex
- Tasom temple - at the very end of the walk and east of the temple
- Banteay Kdei temple - almost at the end of the temple, look at the left hand side
- Victoria Gate and Ghost Gate (Angkor Thom) - just before you get out of the gate, look around and above to see that massive tree on the gate
- Preah Khan temple - banyan tree roots growing on the walls
- Tanei temple - on the wall
- Ancient Spean Thmor bridge - tree growing on it
- Preah Palilay temple - trees at the entrance
- Beng Mealea temple - tree on the wall
- Banteay Ampil temple - closed to Beng Mealea temple, off the beaten track and rarely visited! Google Map here
- East Baray - where you could see tree with massive roots.
- Prasat Phnom Bok - one champaka tree on top of the small tower - if you are in the area in February - March, you will see the white champaca flowers on it, kind of attractive.
- Preah Vihear province: ticket need to be purchased separately from that of Siem Reap. Ticket to Koh Ker and Preah Vihear temple and PKKS are also purchased separately (10$ each, I heard that they planned to merge them together so it will be easier for visitors)
- Prasat pram (Koh Ker circle) – read more here. Google map of Prasat Pram here - when you get to the temple - you will see them, impressive.
- Prasat Preah Vihear - just the small temple at the left hand side outside the big temple complex.
- Gate of Preah Khan Kompong Svay temple - you will cross this gate in order to go to the main temple
- Trees on Preah Steoung temple (Preah Khan Kompong Svay) - at the back of the ruined temple.
- Kompong Thom: another ticket foe 10$ to go here.
- Prasat Tao (Lion temple) in Sambor Preykuk - outside of the Tao temple
In my point of view, four temples stand out for this amazing nature which are
- Taprum and Tasom of Angkork Thom circle in Siem Reap province,
- Prasat Pram of Koh Ker circle in Preah Vihear province and
- Prasat To of Sambo Preykuk circle in Kompong Thom province.
Notes:
- All photos taken by me between 2019 and 2020.
- Detailed information such as tickets, transportation, history and other important information can be retrieved through following the hyperlinks of each place/name above.
- Maps to each area can be found in here
I will edit the post soon.
