Krol Romeas Ruins

Krol Romeas is a small 9th-century structure that survives in a deep state of ruin atop Phnom Kulen, the sacred mountain outside Siem Reap where every Khmer king from Jayavarman II onward underwent the devaraja consecration. Jayavarman II centred his kingdom here for some years, and the site sits close to where his royal palace once stood.

Unusually, Krol Romeas was built of sandstone rather than the brick used for most minor temples of its day; stone was normally reserved for religious buildings and bridges, which has fed a long-standing rumour that it was in fact a brothel rather than a temple. Evidence suggests wooden structures once stood alongside it, though the timber has long since rotted away. Few travellers make the trip, given its small size, remote setting and uncertain history, but it rewards those seeking wide views and an escape from the crowds at Angkor Wat.

Krol Romeas sits in the Angkor/Siem Reap area. From Siem Reap town centre you can reach the Angkor temple circuit by tuk‑tuk, taxi or bicycle; typical tuk‑tuk rides to temples in the park take around 10-20 minutes (roughly 5-8 km depending on which temple you visit). Visitors enter via the Angkor Archaeological Park roads and then walk a short distance from the roadside parking to the ruins.