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Continuing on with our exploration of the Temples of Angkor in Cambodia, we headed from the temple mountain of Eastern Mebon to Ta Som – another temple that I had never heard of but was suggested by our tuk tuk driver. It is these sort of places that end up being really great finds because you’re likely only to visit them with the advice of a local; therefore it is likely to be uncrowded and more memorable. Ta Som is exactly this sort of place – sure there were other people there like us who were seeing the temples independently, but there were no big tour groups at all, leaving us with plenty of room to get lost and explore the maze of jungle clad ruins.

Entrance to Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

The entrance gate to Ta Som

Ta Som is a small 12th century temple that consists of only one level. Exploring the temple involves walking through several gates from the outer walls to reach the central shrine. The symmetrical hallways run from here in each direction to smaller towers and shrines that contain alters.

Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

Walking through the forest to Ta Som

Carving at Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

A carving on one of the gates of Ta Som

Temple Gate at Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

Another gate

An alter in Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

An alter in one of the outer towers, walking towards the centre of the temple

Ancient doorway at Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

An ancient stone doorway

Carvings at Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

Patterns carved into a stone wall

Inside an ancient tower at Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

Looking up from inside the central tower

Like several other temples in Angkor – the most famous being Ta Phrom – Ta Som was left to the jungle after its abandonment, and you can see several trees that have grown over the ruins, giving the temple that real “jungle ruins” look, and without the crowds of tourists getting in the way.

Ancient gate at Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

Walking up to another gate in Ta Som

Ancient stone face at Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

An ancient stone face carved on one of the outer gates

Inside an ancient gate at Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

A giant tree root cuts off a passage through one of the gates

Tree covered ruins at Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

A tree swallows up an ancient gate at Ta Som

Ruins at Ta Som in Angkor, Cambodia

The ruins of Ta Som

If you’re doing the grand circuit in Angkor, Ta Som is definitely worth checking out.

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