Lolei, Hindu temple ruins in Roluos Group, Siem Reap, Cambodia
Lolei is a temple complex with four brick towers arranged in two parallel rows and decorated with elaborate Sanskrit carvings. The doorways and lintels display intricate relief work that shows the skilled craftsmanship of the builders.
King Yasovarman I built the temple in 893 as the final major structure at Hariharalaya before moving the capital to Angkor. This construction marked the end of one era and the start of a new royal center upstream.
The four towers were built as shrines to royal ancestors and Hindu deities, showing how deeply religion and royal power were connected in the kingdom. You can still see the reverence for these ancestors reflected in the careful design and carved inscriptions on the structures.
Access requires a valid Angkor Archaeological Park pass, which covers multiple sites and is valid for several days. The site sits in a flat area with little shade, so visiting early morning or late afternoon works best.
The temple originally sat on an artificial island in the middle of the Indratataka Baray, a massive water reservoir that irrigated the surrounding land. Today the area is dry, but the remains of this water system are still visible and show the engineering skill of that period.
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