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Cambodia News, (Siem Reap): Apsara Authority’s archaeologists are repairing the structures at Lolei Temple, which have almost totally collapsed after hundreds of years due to old age, natural weather erosion, and lack of maintenance.

Lolei Temple, part of the "Rolous group" of temples north of National Road 6 in Prasat Bakong commune in Siem Reap, was built in 893AD by King Yasovarman I who dedicated it to Shiva and to his father and the members of the royal family.

From wikipedia:

The name "Lolei" is thought to be a modern corruption of the ancient name "Hariharalaya," which means "the city of Harihara." Once an island temple, Lolei was located on an island slightly north of centre in the now dry Indratataka baray. Scholars believe that placing the temple on an island in the middle of a body of water served to identify it symbolically with Mount Meru, home of the gods, which in Hindu mythology is surrounded by the world oceans.

Lolei consists of four brick temple towers grouped together on a terrace. The king build Lolei for his ancestors. One for his grandfather, one for his grandmother, one for his father, and one for his mother. The front two towers are for the males while the two towers at the back are for the females. The two taller towers are for his grandparents while the two shorter towers are for his parents. Originally, the towers were enclosed by an outer wall access through which was through a gopura, but neither wall nor gopura have survived to the present.

See also: cambodian-culture-and-language/head-sta ... 44256.html

My favourite when I first visited this part of the world, mainly for how idyllic and deserted they were at the time

Restoration of Southeast Tower of Lolei Temple is 70% Complete
AKP Phnom Penh, November 04, 2021 --

The renovation of the southeastern structure of the Lolei Temple in Siem Reap province has so far been 70 percent completed, the APSARA National Authority pointed out this morning.

The restoration work is scheduled to complete by the end of 2021, the source underlined.

Archaeologists from the APSARA National Authority started to restore the southeastern structure in mid-2021, it added.

According to the Ministry of Tourism, Lolei Temple was constructed in late 9th century C.E. during the reign of King Yasovarman I. It is an island-temple built in the middle of a now dry baray, Indratataka. Lolei consists of four brick towers on a double laterite platform. It was the last major temple built at Roluos before Yasovarman I move the capital to the Angkor area.
- AKP

UPDATE

APSARA National Authority Restoring Lolei Temple
AKP Phnom Penh, February 09, 2022 --
Archaeologists from the APSARA National Authority are working to restore and maintain the 1,000-year-old ruined towers of the Lolei Temple in Siem Reap province, the authority said in a news release this morning.

The main tasks currently include restoring and reinforcing the structure of the entrance that was excavated in front of the temple on the east side as well as strengthening the platform of the temple towers, it pointed out.

The team also started excavation to remove the pieces of the bricks that collapse in the southwest of the temple for future restoration, it added.

The APSARA National Authority has been implementing regularly the restoration work at risk points and maintenance of temples.
By Phal Sophanith
AKP

APSARA Authority Restoring Southwestern Tower of Lolei Temple
AKP Phnom Penh, April 20, 2022 --

The APSARA National Authority’s technicians are working to restore the southwestern tower of the Lolei temple, according to a news release of the APSARA National Authority on April 19.


The restoration work started in March 2022, and the technicians have been carrying out some important work, such as strengthening the structure of the lower part, reinforcing the pillars at the door to support the weight of the upper part, and reinforcing the brick structure, which has the cracks as well as sealing cracks in walls to prevent water seepage and stabilising the tower using a steel frame from the inside, it pointed out.

The restoration work is scheduled to be completed before the end of 2022, the same source underlined.
By Phal Sophanith