The Roluos Archaeological Complex

Attached to the Angkor archaeological site, Roluos is a collection of pre-Angkorian temples dating back to the late 9th century. During your visit to Siem Reap, you can visit these temples, which are located only a few kilometers from the city. It is ideal to go early in the morning to avoid the large crowds of tourists.

History

The Roluos group is the remnant of the ancient Hariharalaya, the first capital of the Khmer Empire during the Angkorian era. The history of Roluos mainly refers to its four temples: Preah Ko, Bakong, Lolei, and Prei Monti. These temples were built by King Jayavarman II, who decided to move the capital to Roluos. The population of the former capital was about the same as that of Phnom Penh today.

Preah Ko, the temple dedicated to Shiva and famous for its sacred bulls, was erected in 879. The Bakong temple, built in 881, is the most important, also dedicated to Shiva and symbolizing Mount Meru. Upon its discovery, it was heavily damaged, and it took 10 years of restoration work to rebuild it. Maurice Glaize was the one who rebuilt it between 1936 and 1943. The third temple is Lolei, constructed in 889 under King Yasovarman's reign in honor of his father. Finally, the fourth temple, Prei Monti, is where King Jayavarman III once lived.

Visiting Roluos

Roluos is a group of four monuments located near the Angkor archaeological site. It is essentially a model for the Angkor site. The four monuments you can visit in the Roluos complex are the temples of Bakong, Preah Ko, Lolei, and Prei Monti.

These temples are the first to represent the typical architectural model of Cambodia. The buildings of Roluos stand out primarily for their tall square brick towers placed on large platforms. Only the terraces and some lintels are made of stone, while the towers, which were once covered in colored plaster, are hollow. The visit to the Roluos group is often combined with a visit to Angkor.

PREAH KO

The Preah Ko temple was built under the reign of Indravarman I at the end of the 9th century. It was constructed in homage to 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. The temple gets its name from the three "Nandin" statues, or sacred bulls, representing the mounts of Shiva, which face the sanctuaries.

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

BAKONG

The Bakong temple is notable for its pyramid-like shape, built on a square base of 65 meters per side. It represents the "mountain" temples of Mount Meru and is decorated with Nagas, Garudas, and Yaksas. There is also a large staircase guarded by lion statues on either side. The temple has gopuras, or entrance gates, passing through surrounding walls and located at each cardinal point. The gopurams house deities considered guardians of the sanctuary. The buildings of Bakong are considered libraries and were constructed with durable materials. The outer enclosures alternate with moats.

LOLEI

The Lolei temple is very similar to Preah Ko. It was completed under the reign of Yasovarman. At the end of its construction in 893, the temple was located on an artificial islet in the center of a large reservoir of water that once supplied the region. This makes Lolei unique, as it is the first temple built in the middle of a baray. During your visit, you will find only four towers in poor condition. These four towers were constructed with bricks laid on a two-tiered foundation.

PREI MONTI

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

How to get there?

The Roluos group is located 15 km from Siem Reap city, along National Road 6. To reach Roluos, it is recommended to take a tuk-tuk from Siem Reap. You can easily find one, as this mode of transport is available throughout the city's streets.

Opening hours and fees

• Entrance tickets for the Roluos visit are sold on the road leading to the site, so it’s necessary to buy one in advance.
• The visit to the temple can be completed in half a day, including the round trip from Siem Reap.