Part of the Angkor archaeological site, Roluos is a collection of pre-Angkorian temples dating from the late 9th century. During your stay in Siem Reap, you can visit these temples located just a few kilometres from the city. The best approach is to go early in the morning to avoid the main tourist crowds.

History

The Roluos group is a remnant of ancient Hariharalaya, the first capital of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian era. The history of Roluos primarily revolves around four temples: Preah Ko, Bakong, Lolei and Prei Monti. These temples were constructed by King Jayavarman II, who decided to relocate the capital to Roluos. The population of the ancient capital was comparable to that of present-day Phnom Penh.

Preah Ko, the temple dedicated to Shiva and famous for its sacred bulls, was erected in 879. The Bakong followed in 881, the most important temple, also dedicated to Shiva and symbolising Mount Meru. Upon its discovery, it was severely damaged, requiring 10 years of restoration work. It was Maurice Glaize who rebuilt it between 1936 and 1943. The third temple is Lolei, constructed in 889 under King Yasovarman's reign as a tribute to his father. Finally, the fourth temple, named Prei Monti, is the sanctuary where King Jayavarman III once resided.

Visiting Roluos

Roluos is a group of four monuments situated near the Angkor archaeological site. It serves as a sort of prototype for the Angkor site. The four monuments you can visit at the Roluos complex are the temples of Bakong, Preah Ko, Lolei and Prei Monti.

These temples are the earliest representatives of Cambodia's typical architectural model. The Roluos buildings stand out primarily for their towering brick structures of square form, placed on large platforms. Only the earthworks and certain lintels are made of stone, while the towers, once covered with coloured plaster, are hollow. A visit to the Roluos group is often combined with one to Angkor.

PREAH KO

The Preah Ko temple was constructed during the reign of Indravarman I in the late 9th century. It was built in honour of the king's ancestors and is specifically dedicated to Jayavarman II. It is the oldest of the three Roluos temples and was inaugurated in 879. It owes its name to three statues of "Nandin" or sacred bulls, representing the mounts of Shiva, facing the sanctuaries.

Preah Ko consists of six brick towers arranged in two rows of three each, perched on a sandstone platform and facing east. The front central tower is the tallest of all. The three towers are dedicated to three ancestors of King Indravarman and their wives. The left tower is that of Prithivindreshvara, the king's father, while the right is dedicated to Rudreshvara, his grandfather. The central tower is consecrated to Jayavarman II.

BAKONG

The Bakong temple is distinguished by its pyramidal form on a square base of 65 metres per side. It represents the "mountain" temples of Mount Meru and is decorated with Nagas, garudas and yaksas. There is also a grand staircase guarded by lion statues on each side. The temple features gopuras, or entrance gates, piercing the surrounding walls at each cardinal point. The gopuras house deities considered guardians of the sanctuary. The buildings of the Bakong temple are regarded as libraries and were constructed with durable materials. The outer enclosures alternate with moats.

LOLEI

The Lolei temple closely resembles Preah Ko. It was completed during Yasovarman's reign. Upon its completion in 893, the temple stood on an artificial island situated at the centre of a vast water reservoir that once supplied the region. This is what makes Lolei so unique, as it is the first temple constructed in the middle of a baray. During your visit, you will find only 4 towers in poor condition. These four towers were built with bricks laid on a two-level foundation.

PREI MONTI

Prei Monti is a Hindu temple dedicated to Shiva and likely built in the early 9th century. The Prei Monti complex is located approximately 1 km south of Bakong. In ruins, this temple is rarely visited.

The Roluos group is situated 15 km from the city of Siem Reap, on National Route 6. To reach Roluos, you are advised to take a tuk-tuk from Siem Reap. You will easily find one, as this means of transport circulates throughout all streets of the city.

Hours and Admission

• Entry tickets for visiting Roluos are sold on the road leading to the site entrance. You should therefore purchase one in advance.
• A temple visit can be completed in half a day, including the round trip from Siem Reap city.