The laterite temple of Ta Prohm was built by King Jayavarman VII on top of an earlier 6th century Khmer shrine. The result is a well-preserved gem of a temple, not unduly large, but with some splendid decorative features. The main sanctuary has five chambers, in each of which is a statue or a Shiva lingam.

Jayavarman VII (1125??215) was a king (reigned c.1181-1215) of the Khmer Empire at Angkor. Cambodia. He was the son of King Dharanindravarman II (r. 1150-1160) and Queen Sri Jayarajacudamani. He married Jayarajadevi and then, after her death, married her sister Indradevi. The two women are commonly thought to have been a great inspiration to him, particularly in his unusual devotion to Buddhism, as only one prior Khmer king had been a Buddhist.