Ancient Cambodian Shrine

The **Ancient Cambodian Shrine**, sometimes called the **Ancient Cambodian Temple**, is a ruined shrine found on the Jungle Cruise at the Disney Parks. Located in Cambodia in Southeast Asia, it was discovered by Dr. Albert Falls and is a popular destination of the Jungle Navigation Company’s cruises.

## Description

This Hindu temple was created in the Mekong river in Cambodia.

### Features

#### Exterior

* **Entrance**: The entrance to the temple is completely flooded by the Mekong river. It is located near a grown-over statue of Jayavarman VII.
* **Indian Elephant Bathing Pool**:
* **Shrine**: The shrine was dedicated to worship of Hindu deities such as Hanuman and Genesha.

#### Interior

* **Hanuman Shrine Chamber**: This chamber was used to worship the Hindu monkey-god Hanuman and featured a metal statue of the god. A large assortment of treasures were also kept within this room, potentially as offerings made to the deity.

## History

The Ancient Cambodian Shrine was built hundreds of years ago along the Mekong River as a Buddhist shrine. Outside of the temple was a stone statue in the likeness ofJayavarman VII, the post-humous name of Mahaparamasaugata (c. 1122-1218), a king of the Khmer Empire in present-day Siem Reap, Cambodia.

For unknown reasons, the temple was abandoned, and the natural forces of the world wore it down until it was half-sunken. Animals moved inside, including bengal tigers, giant spiders, monkeys, and venomous cobras.At some point in time (likely c. or prior to the early 18th century), a quasi-immortal South American man named Trader Sam created his first liquor concoction and dumped it in a secret pool behind the temple ruins. By the next day, the alcohol had attracted a large number of Indian elephants who would go on to use the pool as their secret bathing-spot for years to come.

The shrine was forgotten in the Mekong until Dr. Albert Falls of the *Society of Explorers and Adventurers* rediscovered the shrine on June 5, 1888. Falls' rediscovery of the shrine was made official by his fellow S.E.A. member Sango Shio. When Alberta Falls took ownership of the Jungle Navigation Company in the 1930s, their cruises included a stop at the old ruins with them nicknaming it the, "**Shir Lee Temple**" after child-actress Shirley Temple.

Tours through the temple continued until it was until the JNC stopped allowing tours to pass through the temple when a boat called the Zambezi Zelda entered but failed to exit. This however did not prevent JNC skippers from continuing their tours anyways.

## Appearances and allusions

### Jungle Cruise

#### Disneyland

The shrine is the first location encountered on the cruise, located on the port side. It is outdoors, with a few ruined columns and archways remaining. A fallen statue of Buddha and a statue of Ganesha can be seen, as well. The ruins are populated by some animals, including a tiger, a couple of crocodiles, and a pair of cobras.

#### Magic Kingdom

The shrine is encountered about halfway through the cruise. When they reach the Mekong River, the skipper asks if the guests want to go in. Whatever the response, they push ahead - though the skipper keeps their eyes closed. The ruins have large arches and pillars, with a large stone face carved into the rockwork. A crocodile can be seen in the water nearby.

Once inside, guests discover that the temple is occupied by various animals. A tiger with glowing eyes growls at the guests. Glittering gold treasure is guarded by a group of cobras. A troop of monkeys play with the various treasures. At the end of the ruins, four statues of Buddha can be seen. The boat reemerges into the secret elephant bathing pool.

In the queue for the ride, Albert Awol mentioning the JNC disallowing skippers to take tours through the ruins. This being the result of the boat  Zambesi Zelda going going missing in the ruins, its passengers quite possibly killed by the temple's wildlife.

### Skipper Canteen

After his discovery of the shrine, Dr. Albert Falls was awarded an Official Certificate of Discovery by the Society of Explorers and Adventurers. The certificate was signed by senior member Sango Shio and can be found in the restaurant along with a painting of a young Dr. Falls at the ruins can be found in the S.E.A. room. In the library there is a book titled, "The Lost Temple of Shir Lee" by one Mo Williams.

## Connections

### Adventure Trading Company

The Adventure Trading Company's Elephant Juju is modelled after the Indian elephant sculpture in the Cambodian shrine.

## Trivia

* The temple resembles the Ta Prohm in Siem Reap, Cambodia and Bayon temple of Angkor in Cambodia.

## References

1. ↑ https://www.flickr.com/photos/cliff\_77/4801087959/in/photostream/
2. ↑ http://matterhorn1959.blogspot.com/2013/03/monkeys-and-crocodiles-oh-my.html
3. ↑ https://www.yesterland.com/images-background/junglecruise3\_shrine\_wdw2019ah.jpg
4. ↑ https://skipperpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Cambodian\_Ruins
5. ↑ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bg\_-9TRFBNh/
6. ↑ https://jungleskipper.com/sea/members/dr-albert-falls#&gid=1&pid=certificate-of-offical-discovery-cambodian-shrine-dr-albert-falls-a1
7. ↑ https://skipperpedia.fandom.com/wiki/Queue#Albert\_AWOL
8. ↑ https://ohmy.disney.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/jungle\_cruise\_tiger1.jpg