Ta Som

Ta Som is a modest single-enclosure temple built by Jayavarman VII, with face towers over its gates in the style of the Bayon, and its particular attraction is at the far end: the eastern gopura has been enveloped by a strangler fig whose roots pour down over the carved face and frame it, one of the most photographed tree-and-stone combinations at Angkor after Ta Prohm and considerably quieter. The temple is small enough to walk through in twenty minutes, and because it sits at the far corner of the grand circuit it sees fewer groups than the main sites. Restoration has stabilised much of the structure while leaving the fig in place, which is a deliberate choice.

What you actually see

• The fig-covered gate - roots pouring over the carved face tower.
• Bayon-style faces - the serene stone faces over the gateways.
• A compact plan - a single enclosure walked in twenty minutes.
• Quiet corners - fewer groups than the main circuit temples.

When to go

November to March for the cool dry season. Late afternoon light suits the eastern gate, which is also when the circuit traffic has thinned. Early morning works equally well.

Honest expectations

The temple is small and the visit brief. The famous gate is at the far side, so people who turn back early miss it. Stone underfoot is uneven. Everything at Angkor requires the pass.

Nearby

Neak Pean lies west; East Mebon is south.