1-Day Temple Tour: Explore Rolous Group, Grand Circuit & Sunset

The Rolous Group is a collection of ancient temples located about 13 kilometers east of Siem Reap, Cambodia. It is one of the earliest temple complexes built during the Khmer Empire, dating back to the late 9th century. The group includes three main temples: Lolei, Preah Ko, and Bakong. The Rolous Group is significant for its historical and architectural value, showcasing early Khmer temple design and the transition from brick to sandstone construction. It provides insight into the early development of Khmer art and culture before the rise of the more famous Angkor temples.

In 802 AD, Jayavarman II, the first king of Angkor, declared the sovereignty of Cambodia. After experiencing various ups and downs, he established his capital at Hariharalaya. A few decades later, his successors constructed Bakong in stages as the first temple mountain of sandstone at Angkor. The inscription on its stele (classified K.826) states that in 881, King Indravarman I dedicated the temple to the god Shiva and consecrated its central religious image, a lingam named Sri Indresvara, which combined the king's own name with the suffix "-esvara," meaning Shiva ("Iśvara"). According to George Coedès, the devarāja cult was based on the idea of divine kingship as a legitimacy of royal power; however, later authors have stated that it does not necessarily involve the cult of the physical persona of the ruler himself.

Preah Ko, which means "The Sacred Bull," was the first temple to be built in the ancient and now-defunct city of Hariharalaya (in the area that is today called Roluos), some 15 kilometers southeast of the main group of temples at Angkor, Cambodia. The temple was constructed under the Khmer King Indravarman I in 879 to honor members of the king's family, placing them in relation to the Hindu deity Shiva. After the Khmer king Jayavarman II founded the Khmer Empire in 802 A.D., he established his capital at Hariharalaya, where he later died. Indravarman I was the nephew of Jayavarman II. When he ascended to the throne, he ordered the construction of Preah Ko, which was dedicated in 879, and later of the temple-mountain known as Bakong. It is likely that this building program was made possible by the king's peaceful reign and his ability to draw income from the expanding empire. A restoration of the towers took place in the early 1990s, financed by the German government.

Lolei is the northernmost temple of the Roluos group, which consists of three late 9th-century Hindu temples at Angkor, Cambodia; the other two are Preah Ko and Bakong. Lolei was the last of the three temples to be built as part of the city of Hariharalaya, which once flourished at Roluos. In 893, the Khmer king Yasovarman I dedicated it to Shiva and to members of the royal family. The name "Lolei" is thought to be a modern corruption of the ancient name "Hariharalaya," which means "the city of Harihara." Once an island temple, Lolei was located on an island slightly north of the center of the now-dry Indratataka baray, the construction of which had nearly been completed under Yasovarman's father and predecessor, Indravarman I. Scholars believe that placing the temple on an island in the middle of a body of water served to symbolically identify it with Mount Meru, the home of the gods, which in Hindu mythology is surrounded by the world oceans.

Neak Poan is situated at the center of Jayatadak Lake, surrounded by tranquil waters. The name "Neak Pean" translates to "the entwined serpents." Originally designed for medicinal purposes, this temple reflects the ancient belief that bathing in its pools could restore balance among the body's elements, thereby curing ailments. It is one of the many hospitals constructed by King Jayavarman VII, embodying the ancient Hindu principle of equilibrium. The temple features four interconnected pools, each representing one of the fundamental elements: Water, Earth, Fire, and Wind. These pools are linked to the central water source, the main tank, by stone conduits, each presided over by one of the Four Great Animals (maha ajaneya pasu): the Elephant, Bull, Horse, and Lion, corresponding to the cardinal directions of north, east, south, and west. This intricate design not only serves a practical purpose but also symbolizes the harmonious interplay of nature and health in ancient Khmer culture.