Ta Prohm temple at Angkor, Cambodia

© Stefano Coltelli/Offset

Ta Prohm temple at Angkor, Cambodia

Construction of this Buddhist temple in the Siem Reap Province of Cambodia began in 1186. When the Khmer Empire collapsed in the 15th century, Ta Prohm, and many other stone temples like it, were left standing, but neglected. In the late 20th century, restoration organizations opted to leave Ta Prohm as is, clearing a bit of jungle brush away, but leaving the massive tetrameles trees in place, as their roots and trunks gradually work into the stonework of the temple. The preserved ruin is a major tourist attraction in Angkor, Cambodia.