Amelia's Nest

"One of the major temples of Jajavarman Vii - in fact, a temple-monastery -Ta Prohm features a set of concentric galleries with corner towers and gopuras, but with many other additional buildings and enclosures. The complexity of it's layout is increased by its partly col..lapsed state, with trees interlaced among the ruins. According to its stele, which until recently was in situ, the principal divinities of Ta Prohm were installed in1186 to transfer merit to the king's mother.The principal deity, Prajnaparamita, the "Perfection of Wisdom", was carved in her likeness....Ta Prohm's original name  was Rajavihara, "the Royal Monastery"....This was the temple chosen by the Ecole Francais d'Extreme-Orient to be left in it's "natural state", as an example of how most of Angkor looked on its discovery in the 19th century. This was an inspired decision, and involved a significant amount of work to prevent further collapse and enough clearing of vegetation to allow entry."