Roulous Group is a Cambodian modern small town and an archeological site about 13 km east of Siem Reap along NH6.

Prasat Kravan Temple was the capital of Indravarman I (877 to 889).

The Roulous Group is made up of the three temples of Preah Ko, Bakong, and Lolei. Many of the later temples in the Angkor group are based on these earlier temples though rather then brick.

Roulous Group are the first temples "hard" built by the Khmers and represent the beginnings of classical architecture and art in Cambodia.

Rolous Group and Small Circuit

Bakong is the first temple mountain of sandstone constructed by rulers of the Khmer empire at Angkor near modern Siem Reap in Cambodia.

Rolous Group Temples

Rolous Group overview

Rolous Group is a small town and archeological site located 13 kilometers east of Siem Reap on National Highway No. 6. The ruins in this area belonged to Hariharalaya, the first capital of the Khmer Empire, which was located to the north of Tonle Sap. They are even older than the Angkor Complex, the country’s most famous temple wonder. Because of its unique architecture and spiritual values, Roluos Group is now one of Siem Reap’s most popular tourist attractions.

In fact, what is visible today in Roluos was founded in the late 9th century by King Indravarman I. The temples of the Roluos Group contain some of the earliest structures built by the Khmer people. They have, to some extent, marked the beginning of the Khmer civilization’s classic period, which began in the late ninth century. Some are entirely constructed of bricks, while others are partially constructed of laterite or sandstone.

The Roluos Group consists of three main temples: Bakong, Lolei, and Preah Ko, which are located 11 kilometers southeast of the Siem Reap Market. These temples are close together and spread out over a three-kilometer area east of the Great Lake. They reveal the beginning of the Classic period of Khmer art by sharing some architectural, and decoration styles, materials, and construction methods.

Roluos Group structures are distinguished architecturally by high square-shaped brick towers on pedestals. The entrance is on the east side, with three false doors. As with other buildings built during this time period, bricks were used for towers, and sandstone was used for carved areas such as pillars, lintels, and decorative niches. Although the temples were once surrounded by a wall, only traces of it remain today. A remarkable innovation of the time, an entry tower, intersected it on two or more sides. The previous examples were rectangular with a tier on top. Some historians regard the Roluos Group as “the most beautiful of all Khmer art” because of its typical decoration in Khmer architecture style.

With its pyramid architecture, the Bakong Temple appears to be the most outstanding structure in the Roluos Group. It was once surrounded by two moats, but only the inner one remains. Bakong is 15 meters tall and has a rectangular structure. The majestic and magnificent beauty of the temple is created by the towering steps and large animals carved on four sides.

Meanwhile, the heart of Preah Ko Temple is a cluster of six towers built on a common terrace. The first square wall, which is 60m long on each side, surrounds it. The second, which encloses the library and mixed-construction annexes, is 95m long on each side and has the same entrances. This temple is dedicated to the Hindu God Shiva. It is now less popular than the other two due to the severe damage and distance from the city center.

Lolei, the final temple, is located on an island in the middle of an artificial lake. Only the two-tiered pyramid with four of the six planned towers remains standing. However, they are only ruins. According to an inscription found in the temple, it was once part of the Hariharalaya irrigation system.

How to travel to Rolous Group?

Rolous Group is only about 13 kilometers from Siem Reap town on National Highway No. 6, making this site accessible by taxis, private car transfers, local buses, or cycling if you prefer to experience the local roads leading to Rolous Group, Siem Reap, Cambodia.

It is advisable to spend a half-day sightseeing in the Roluos Group. This will be an excellent opportunity for tourists to learn more about Khmer art, particularly classic architecture and religious beliefs. The best time to visit this location is in the morning when you can clearly see the three temples in this group.

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