The Roulos Temples

Thirty minutes outside of Siem Reap is the Roulos Group of temples. The group consists of the Bakong, Preah Ko, Lolei and Prei Monti temples. These are some of the oldest temples that you will see at Angkor, dating back to at least the 9th century. The temples are what remains of “Hariharalaya”, which was the first capital of the Khmer empire and it's thought that the temples were built next to an existing settlement. These temples have become known as The Roluos Group, due to their proximity to today's bustling town of Roluos

Not in an enclosed area like Angkor Thom, The Roulos Group consists of 4 structures found in different locations. To get to these temples you will need to go through small communities where you will have the chance to see some of the rural aspects of Cambodian life.

The highlight of the group is Bakong Temple, which is a stunning temple that offers amazing views of the surrounding countryside. The peaceful grounds of the temple include a picturesque moat and various other small structures. The site also includes a working Buddhist pagoda, Bakong pagoda which is also well worth a visit for its interesting murals.

The Roulos Group of Temples are located approximately 15 kilometers from the town of Siem Reap and is an easy half day excursion. A tuk-tuk is the recommended way to get there.

Admission to The Roluos Group is included in your regular Temple Tickets, note that tickets are only available at the main ticket office which is north of siem reap and not near the roulos group itself.

Check out our Siem Reap Temple Map for more information on the temples and where to find them.

The images used in this article are licensed from "www.photodharma.net - The Roulos Group" by Anandajoti Bhikkhu under CC BY-SA 3.0.