Lolei, A Timeless Testament to Khmer Artistry
Lolei Temple, National Highway 6, Lolei, Siem Reap, Cambodia
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Introduction
The Roluos Temple is built on a small island in the center of the first man-made reservoir in Khmer history, Roluos Pool, located in China. Today, with the drying up of the reservoir, the island has become a rice field. The Roluos Temple was the last major temple built before the capital was moved to Angkor by King Yasovarman I, and it is dedicated to Shiva. The temple complex is considered the beginning of Khmer art, and King Jayavarman II, the founding monarch of the Angkor Dynasty, had several capitals, with Roluos Temple being the second. The Angkor Dynasty ruled from this site for 70 years. The temple features four brick towers, which closely resemble those of the Bakong Temple. Inside the temple, there are beautifully carved sandstone Buddha niches, and the door pillars are inscribed with Sanskrit script. According to one inscription, the towers were built on July 12, 893, by King Yasovarman I as an offering to his parents and grandparents. Address Lolei Temple, National Highway 6, Lolei, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Transportation The Roluos Group is located 13 kilometers east of Siem Reap, and it takes about 45 minutes by car to get there.
An early temple
