Ta Prohm Temple Tonle Bati, Takeo Province

 Ta Prohm Temple is located at the Tonle Bati resort area in Thnal Taksin Village, Krang Thnong Commune, Bati District, Takeo Province, about 34 kilometers south of Phnom Penh along National Road No. 2.

The temple was built in the 12th century and early 13th century, between 1181 and 1201. It is constructed of sandstone and decorated with exquisite carvings. It is similar to Ta Prohm Temple in Siem Reap because it follows the Bayon architectural style during the reign of King Jayavarman VII, the great emperor of the Khmer Empire.

The temple compound measures 150 meters in length and 95 meters in width, and the central tower rises to a height of 12 meters. In the central sanctuary, there is a lintel depicting the Buddha entering Nirvana. This sculpture was carved later, in the 16th century, during the reign of King Chan Reachea I.

After successfully defeating Champa and restoring Angkor and the homeland to lasting peace, King Jayavarman VII began unifying the nation through peaceful means. He promoted religious harmony by blending Mahayana Buddhism with Brahmanism, which worshipped the Trimurti (the three principal Hindu gods). This religious and political integration is reflected in major temple constructions such as Bayon, Banteay Kdei, Preah Khan, Banteay Chhmar, Srah Srang, Neak Pean, Ta Som, Krol Ko, and the great walls surrounding Angkor Thom.

Both Ta Prohm temples — in Siem Reap and Takeo provinces — were built to dedicate to Avalokiteshvara (Lokeshvara) and served as monasteries for monks. The Ta Prohm temple in the Angkor region was originally named Rajavihara. Although the Ta Prohm temple at Tonle Bati is smaller in scale than the one at Angkor, evidence suggests that it also functioned as a monastery or sacred sanctuary.

There are no mountains near Tonle Bati, so where did the ancient Khmers obtain the stones to build the temple? Historians explain that sandstone and laterite blocks were transported from distant mountains by ox carts, on the backs of elephants, and by boats. The central tower reaches a height of 11 meters, while the enclosing wall measures 42 meters in length and 36 meters in width.

Along the entrance pathway to the central sanctuary, there are two ponds used for storing water for religious ceremonies. These ponds symbolize the sacred Anavatapta Lake in Buddhist cosmology, while in Brahmanism they represent the cosmic ocean surrounding the world.

On the left side of the entrance to the first enclosure’s gopura (gateway), there is a one-meter-high stone slab partially buried in the ground. It features a carving of Indra, king of the gods and deity of rain and thunder, seated on the three-headed elephant Airavata, which was born from the churning of the Ocean of Milk.

Inscriptions

An inscription at Ta Prohm of Tonle Bati, written in the 6th century, mentions King Rudravarman, son of King Kaundinya Jayavarman. He practiced Buddhism and venerated the sacred relics of the Buddha. During his reign, a sacred hair relic of the Buddha was kept for worship, but it was later taken away by a southern Chinese ruler.

Another inscription, catalogued as K.40 and dating from before the 6th century, is written in Sanskrit. Its first two lines dedicate the text to Jinasri (the Buddha) and include the term “Nirvana.” It also mentions King Rudravarman, son of King Jayavarman, who is referenced in Chinese historical records. In 539 CE, King Rudravarman sent a sacred hair relic of the Buddha, reportedly three meters long, as a gift to the Chinese emperor.

If one travels from Phnom Penh along National Road No. 2 for about 32 kilometers to O Roung in Bati District, Takeo Province, then turns west for 2 kilometers into Krang Thnong Commune, one will reach an ancient rectangular lake with clear water throughout both dry and rainy seasons, known as Tonle Bati. Along the shore of this lake stand two temples: Ta Prohm Temple and Yeay Peau Temple.