Out of all the temples at Angkor, this one is by far my favorite. It is spooky and amazing at the same time.
Built in 1186 by Jayavarman VII, it was dedicated to his mother. The temple was discovered in this condition and left much the same way. The jungle has taken over, with the roots of the giant banyan trees taking possession of the real estate.
At one time 72,000 people, including 2470 monks and 600 dancers lived here. Today it is being invaded by looters and tourists. Considering the cost of admission, I think it is a crime that the government doesn’t hire reliable security to protect the place. But then, from what I have read, it’s the government or the military that is doing the looting! Go figure.
