49 Abandoned Landmarks That Are More Beautiful Than Ever

12. Ta Prohm – Siem Reap, Cambodia

Ta Prohm is the jungle-draped jewel of Cambodia’s Angkor Wat complex—and perhaps the most visually iconic. While many nearby temples have been fully restored, Ta Prohm has been deliberately left in a state of partial ruin, allowing nature to weave its slow magic. Giant silk-cotton and strangler fig trees burst through stone walls, their roots snaking around ancient carvings with both power and grace. Moss and lichen paint the sandstone green, while shafts of light slice through the jungle canopy to illuminate centuries-old reliefs. Originally built in the late 12th century as a monastery and university, Ta Prohm once housed over 12,000 people. Now, it's a place of sublime stillness. There are no crowds, no loudspeakers—only the sounds of birds and rustling leaves. Popularized in films like Tomb Raider, the temple has become a symbol of romantic ruin, where history and nature embrace rather than compete. To wander here is to feel like an explorer in a forgotten world—one that continues to live, breathe, and inspire awe with every step.