🛕 Roluos Group
រលួស
Also known as: Hariharalaya
Province
Siem Reap
Era
Early Angkorian
Difficulty
🟢 Easy
Crowds
😌 Low Crowds
Key Facts
Built: 9th century (879–893 AD)
Built by: Kings Indravarman I and Yasovarman I
Religion: Hindu
Entry Fee: Angkor Pass
Time Needed: 1–2 hours for all three temples
UNESCO: ✅ World Heritage Site
The earliest major Angkorian temples — Bakong, Preah Ko, and Lolei — representing the dawn of Khmer monumental architecture.
The Roluos Group marks the site of Hariharalaya, the first major capital of the Khmer Empire at Angkor. Three main temples here — Bakong (881 AD), Preah Ko (879 AD), and Lolei (893 AD) — represent some of the earliest examples of permanent Khmer temple construction. Preah Ko ("Sacred Bull") features six brick towers with elaborate stucco decoration and sacred Nandi bull statues. Bakong is the first true "temple mountain" in Angkorian architecture and served as the state temple of Indravarman I. Lolei, built on an island in the now-dry Indratataka baray, has four brick towers with important Sanskrit inscriptions. The Roluos Group is essential for understanding the evolution of Khmer architecture, as the techniques and styles developed here directly influenced the later masterpieces of Angkor.
Highlights
- ✦ Earliest major Angkorian temples
- ✦ Bakong — first temple mountain
- ✦ Preah Ko stucco decorations
- ✦ Lolei Sanskrit inscriptions
- ✦ Active Buddhist monastery at Bakong
- ✦ Almost no tourists
Best Time to Visit
Morning — about 13 km east of Siem Reap
Visitor Tips
- 💡 Located 13 km east of Siem Reap — combine with a morning or afternoon trip
- 💡 Bakong is the most impressive of the three
- 💡 An active monastery surrounds Bakong — respectful dress required
- 💡 Great for understanding the evolution of Khmer architecture
Nearby Temples
13.3449°N, 103.9677°E
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