History lovers and anyone wanting quiet temples away from the crowds
The Roluos Group is a set of 9th-century temples about 12 km east of Siem Reap, at the site of Hariharalaya, the first capital of the Angkorian kings. Its main temples are Preah Ko (879), Bakong (881), the first great temple mountain, and Lolei (893). Entry is included in the Angkor Pass.
September 2026
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The Roluos Group is a cluster of 9th-century temples about 12 kilometres east of Siem Reap, built at Hariharalaya, the first great capital of the Angkorian kings. Its three main temples, Preah Ko, Bakong and Lolei, are among the oldest at Angkor and show where the classic Khmer temple began. Quiet, uncrowded and beautifully carved, they are an easy half-day from town.
Most visitors to Angkor never make it to Roluos, which is exactly why it is worth the short drive. The temples predate Angkor Wat by more than two centuries. Here you can see the ideas that shaped everything that followed: the temple mountain, the reservoir, and the rich carving in brick, stucco and sandstone.
Six brick towers on a low platform, dedicated to Shiva and to the king’s ancestors. It is named after the statues of Nandi, Shiva’s bull, facing the towers. Look for the fine sandstone lintels and carved guardian figures.
A five-tiered sandstone pyramid crowned by a central tower, surrounded by a moat and brick towers. It is the first great temple mountain of Angkor and the ancestor of Angkor Wat. Stone elephants stand guard at the corners of its tiers.
Four brick towers that once stood on an island in the Indratataka reservoir, now dry fields. A working Buddhist monastery shares the site, and its inscriptions are some of the finest at Roluos.
A small, overgrown temple tucked away in a village, rarely visited. A good stop if you enjoy finding ruins in the trees.
Active Buddhist pagodas stand beside Bakong and Lolei. You may meet young monks, who are often happy to chat and practise their English.
Traces of the original stucco survive on the brick towers, and doorframes carry long Sanskrit and Khmer inscriptions that record the temples’ founding.
| Ticket | Covered by the Angkor Pass: 1 day $37, 3 days $62, 7 days $72. Buy it at the official ticket office or online beforehand |
|---|---|
| Opening hours | Daytime, reported as 7:30 am to 5:30 pm; confirm locally |
| Time needed | 2 to 3 hours for Preah Ko, Bakong and Lolei |
| Best time | Early morning or late afternoon, for warm light on the brick |
| Dress code | Shoulders and knees covered |
| Crowds | Light at most times of day |
Roluos is about 12 kilometres east of Siem Reap, just off National Road 6 towards Phnom Penh. By tuk-tuk or car it takes 20 to 30 minutes. The temples are close together and linked by village roads, so a driver can take you from one to the next.
Because Roluos lies outside the main park, it fits well at the start or end of a day, or on your way to or from the Tonle Sap floating villages, which are in the same direction.
To follow the story forward, visit Angkor Wat, Banteay Srei and Phnom Kulen, where Jayavarman II founded the empire.
Our private Angkor days start with the oldest temples and build up to the great monuments, with a licensed local guide. Roluos features in our Cradle of the Khmer journey, and we can add it to any Siem Reap stay.
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