Lolei Temple

Lolei Temple was built in 889AD and is still very much a sacred place. This is still a practicing monastery, where young monks are trained in disciplines of the Buddhist religion.

The existing Lolei Temple was built on sacred ground by King Yasovarman I, erected in honor of his ancestors - and it is one of the oldest ruins in Siem Reap. Originally believed to be an island shrine, it's thought that Lolei Temple was once surrounded by a vast body of water nearly 4 kilometers long and 750 meters wide called the Baray of Lolei.

Inscriptions tell us that five days after the temple was consecrated by Indravarman I, there was a massive irrigation program put in place to surround the sacred temple with water. This was a huge engineering feat and made Lolei Temple accessible only by boat, which was a massive accomplishment considering Europe was still in the dark ages.

Highly decorated murals line the walls and ceilings that are painted in rustic Khmer style with colourfully adorned pillars. Offerings are given daily by the monks, while children wearing orange robes are often seen here, dedicating their lives to absorbing the embodiment of Buddhism.

Because Lolei Temple is off the beaten track it is a place that is quiet and somewhere that you can take time to reflect. Coming here is a unique experience, where you can soak up the vibes of this sacred land that lies in the heart of ancient Khmer mystique.

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The image used in this article is licensed from "RoluosUploaded - Magnus Manske" by Damien @ Flickr under CC BY 2.0.