Cambodia Day 4 – A Morning at Lolei, Bakong and Preah Ko (Roluos Group)

Up again early for breakfast, breakfast being Porridge, much like the rest of Asia (Rice porridge or Congee, not Oats like the Scottish were expecting), or something like Toast or Cereal.

I had space on my camera again on this day, as the night before I burnt all my pictures to a CD at a nearby cybercafe, this service cost $2 and then $1 for an hour of (EXTREMELY SLOW) Internet access.

The Roluos group is a very old trio of temples dating back to the 9th century.

Roluos’s monuments or The Roluos group lies 15 kilometers south-west of Siem Reap and includes three temples – Bakong, Prah Ko and Lolei – dating from the late 9th century and corresponding to the ancient capital of Hariharalaya, from which the name of Lolei is derived. Remains include 3 well-preserved early temples that venerated the Hindu gods. The bas-reliefs are some of the earliest surviving examples of Khmer art. Modern-day villages surround the temples.

First up we went to Lolei.

Lolei

Lolei is the northernmost temple of the Roluos group at Angkor, Cambodia. It was built in the late 9th century under Yasovarman I, being dedicated in 893. It was an island temple, located slightly north of the centre of the Indratataka baray, construction of which was almost completed under the previous king, Indravarman I. The baray is now dry.

Lolei is comprised of 4 very old looking tower sanctuaries made of bricks, not the large stone blocks like the later temples.

The kids had piled up little rocks all around the temples, which was quite a site. Apparently they had no significance though.

Lolei

Lolei really does look ancient and is propped up all over the place like a frail old man.

Lolei

There were Sanskrit inscriptions inside the door frames which helped the historians piece together the past purpose of the temple.

Lolei Sanskrit

After that we headed over the Bakong, the first real pyramid shaped temple in the Angkor complex.

Bakong

The central temple built by Indravarman I one year after Preah Ko, is another example of sandstone mountain-temples. The five superimposed terraces symbolize Mount Meru. ‘Discovered’ by Henri-Marchal in 1936, the temple has been completely restored stone by stone. It’s the nicest of the Roluos temples for its atmosphere, as it is lost in the jungle.

It’s a very majestic temple and somewhat reminscient of Angkor Wat itself with a large moat surrounding the complex.

Bakong

Bakong signifies the climb to heaven, the steps are very large which has the effect of making you kneel as you climb them, at the top was hosted a huge Linga, which unfortunately was no longer there.

Bakong Steps

There is an active school and monastery in the grounds of Bakong, which led me to see the cutest boy EVAR. Yeah I know..how can you not want to adopt one?

Bakong Boy

The temple is embellished with lions squatting at the base of each tier.

Bakong Lion

After that was the last temple of the group Preah Ko, which was pretty much a ruins!

Preah Ko

Built in 879 by Indravarman I in honor of his ancestors. Known as the temple of the sacred ox and dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva feature three sacred oxen in front of the first row of temples, all in poor condition. The front towers relate to the male ancestors or gods, the rear towers to female ancestors or goddesses. A series of lions guard the steps up to the temple platform.

This was about the only temple I saw which had carvings of male warriors, not just female forms.

Preah Ko Warrior

Bakong is definately the best out of the three.

More details on the Roluos Group HERE.

It was quite an early morning, and the afternoon was penned for Tonle Sap, so we had a few hours to spare. I suggested we head to the landmine museum, which we did..Coming next.

On the way we stopped off at a few big tourist shops as it was Chinese New Year and our guide said if we visited the shops they would get presents, they told us not to buy anything though as it was overpriced, so we thought why not. Do them a favour, so we went round 3 huge tourist shops and didn’t buy a thing, the guide and driver each got some kinda hamper things with biscuits and fizzy drinks 🙂

Cambodia Day 1 – Leaving on a Jet Plane to Siem Reap
Cambodia Day 2 – Itinerary – Morning in Angkor Thom and Bayon
Cambodia Day 2 – An Afternoon at Angkor Wat & Sunset at Phnom Bahkeng
Cambodia Day 3 – Morning at Banteay Srei, Ta Som, Neak Pean and Preah Khan
Cambodia Day 3 – An Afternoon at Ta Keo, Ta Prohm and Old Market – Siem Reap

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9 Responses to Cambodia Day 4 – A Morning at Lolei, Bakong and Preah Ko (Roluos Group)

  1. suanie March 2, 2006 at 10:39 am #

    i want to go!

  2. Dabido (Teflon) March 2, 2006 at 10:53 am #

    ‘Yeah I know..how can you not want to adopt one?’

    Shhh, Michael Jackson might be reading. 🙂

  3. Celebrity Vivids March 2, 2006 at 10:55 am #

    yeah we do fookin’ need more brangelinas around.

  4. Fireangel March 2, 2006 at 11:24 am #

    GAH they are starting to all look alike to me. 😛

  5. spiller March 2, 2006 at 11:24 am #

    “..breakfast being Porridge, much like the rest of Asia.”

    Really? Perhaps Hongkies. But I doubt so in Malaysia. It’s not so common here.

  6. Crunk Juice March 2, 2006 at 12:37 pm #

    Colonel Kurtz and Capatain Crunch

  7. aprilcherrie March 2, 2006 at 1:57 pm #

    war… look like is a nice place to take pics…

  8. CarolineL March 2, 2006 at 3:17 pm #

    Did you go the the place where massacre field is? Nearby, there’s a musuem displaying the tools those Khmer used to torture people… It’s sad to see :/

  9. ShaolinTiger March 2, 2006 at 6:27 pm #

    suanie: Just do it!

    spiller: Yah true, but Chinese do often have juk for breakfast here, and it’s a staple part of every Asian hotel buffet breakfast I’ve been to (Here, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Philippines etc.)

    april: Indeed it’s fantastic, photographers paradise 🙂

    CarolineL: Nope, I did want to, but the driver didn’t know where it was.

 
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