Ta Som, Buddhist temple complex in Angkor, Cambodia.

Ta Som is a Buddhist temple at Angkor, built at the end of the 12th century for King Jayavarman VII and entered from the east. Its eastern outer gopura, a cross-shaped gateway of stacked grey and tan stone with carved bands and a frieze of small figures above the arch, is gripped by a sacred fig whose pale roots spread over the facade. Behind it lie laterite enclosure walls, a central cruciform sanctuary with porches and four corner pavilions, and two small libraries beside the eastern path.

The temple was built in the late 12th century by Khmer king Jayavarman VII as a memorial to his deceased father. It was part of a large wave of construction across Angkor that also produced sites like Bayon and Preah Khan.

The temple's name links it to Ta Som, a commander remembered in local tradition. The four-faced towers follow the Bayon style of Jayavarman VII's reign. Visitors can see the sacred fig that has grown through the eastern outer gopura, its roots covering the stone blocks.

A valid Angkor Archaeological Park pass is required to enter the site, which can be bought at the main park entrance. The complex is smaller than many others in the park, so a visit of around half an hour is usually enough to see it well.

At the eastern side of the temple, a large fig tree has pushed its roots through the upper gateway, fusing stone and wood so tightly they can barely be separated. This gateway has become one of the most photographed spots in the entire park.