Lolei

Lolei is the northernmost temple of the Roluos group, completed in 893 AD by King Yasovarman I. The structure was originally situated on an island in the middle of the Indratataka baray, a massive artificial reservoir that has since dried up. The complex consists of four brick towers dedicated to the king's parents and grandparents, serving as a dynastic funerary monument. Although the temple was never fully finished, the surviving sandstone lintels exhibit high artistic quality, featuring depictions of Indra mounted on the elephant Airavata. Lolei marks the transitional period when the Khmer capital was moved from Hariharalaya to the new site of Angkor. Its central position within the reservoir was a potent symbol of the monarch's control over water, which was the lifeblood of the empire's rice-based economy. Today, a modern Buddhist monastery operates adjacent to the ancient ruins, maintaining the site's ongoing spiritual significance. Despite the erosion of its brickwork, Lolei remains a key archaeological site for understanding early Khmer religious geography and engineering capabilities.

Nearby cities

Siem Reap

Serving as the gateway to the majestic ruins of Angkor, this city is the country's main tourist hub with a vibrant cultural scene.

Kampong Phluk

An authentic fishing village on the Tonle Sap lake, famous for its towering seven-meter stilted houses and the surrounding flooded mangro…

History & landmarks

Preah Ko

The first temple built in the ancient capital of Hariharalaya, known for its surviving stucco decorations.

Pre Rup

Pre Rup is a brick and laterite temple mountain in the Angkor area.

East Mebon

A monumental temple that once stood on an artificial island in the middle of the now-dry East Baray reservoir.

Banteay Kdei

A fascinating Buddhist monastic complex in Angkor, whose ruins are peacefully shaded by tall trees today.

Kbal Spean

A sacred river in the mountains, whose riverbed is intricately carved with numerous reliefs and Hindu symbols.

Ta Keo

An unfinished, massive sandstone temple mountain that stands out due to its simplicity and lack of external carvings.

Thommanon

A small, well-preserved Hindu temple in Angkor, known for its detailed Devata carvings.

Terrace of the Elephants

An impressive viewing terrace decorated with life-sized elephant reliefs, once used for royal ceremonies.

Nature

Tonle Sap Lake

The largest freshwater lake in Southeast Asia, whose water level rises drastically during the monsoon, hosting unique biodiversity.

More places

Roluos Group (Bakong)

Some of the earliest permanent temples of the Khmer Empire, with Bakong featuring the first significant temple-mountain architecture.

Banteay Srey Butterfly Centre

This interactive centre showcases a vast variety of native butterflies in a tropical netted enclosure.

Banteay Srei

A Hindu temple made of red sandstone, renowned for its extremely fine and intricate carvings.

Ta Som

A small Buddhist temple whose eastern entrance is famously engulfed by the massive roots of a sacred fig tree.

Neak Pean

Neak Pean is a small temple on an artificial island in Angkor.

Ta Prohm

Ta Prohm is a jungle temple in the Angkor area, known for tree roots growing over its walls.

Angkor Centre for Conservation of Biodiversity

Located near Siem Reap, the ACCB is dedicated to protecting and rehabilitating Cambodia's threatened wildlife.

Preah Khan

Preah Khan is a large temple complex in Angkor that once served as a Buddhist monastery and learning center.