The World Heritage Site at Wat Phou in Champasak
For those who are interested in a crossroads of Hinduism and Theravada Buddhist worship, ancient temple ruins, or just seeing as many UNESCO World Heritage sites as possible while on holiday, Wat Phou in Champasak, Laos is not to be missed. Inscribed into UNESCO in 2001, this site continues to attract visitors looking for a piece of ancient history amidst a green backdrop with an aura of the sacred surrounding it.
The site lies on the banks of the Mekong river, where a peaceful peak rises up -- Mount Phu Kao. The mountain and its form hold a deep symbolism for the temple. In fact, the site was chosen because of the spacial relationship between the mountain and the river. The temples of Wat Phou were constructed to align geometrically between the summit of the mountain and the nearest river shore, to demonstrate the relationship between nature and humanity according to the Hindu vision.
History
Construction of temples on the Wat Phou site beganas early as the 5th century, continuing on to the 15th century, and are associated with the Khmer empire.
Although Wat Phou is now a place of Buddhist worship, its roots are Hindu. The temples were built in honor of the Hindu god Shiva. The site was chosen by its ancient builders because the top of Mount Phu Kao is naturally in the shape of a linga - the phallic shape that represents Shiva in Hinduism. A natural spring also runs at the top of the mount, which made the site even more appropriate for the worship of Shiva.
Excavation of the Wat Phou site began in 1991 by the P.R.A.L, the national archaeological foundation of Laos, and much archaeological work and research is still to be done on the majority of Wat Phou's ancient structures.
Exploring Wat Phou today
Now, the Wat Phou temples site is great for exploration as part of a Mekong river tour. Upon paying the entrance fee, there are a number of points of interest for visitors to take in, but to start in the museum near the main entrance allows for a greater understanding of what lies ahead.
One of the most iconic images that comes from Wat Phou is the footpath leading to the Mount. The path is lined by dark sandstone pillars with bulbed heads that are also a reference to Shiva and the linga symbol that occurs repeatedly throughout the site.
The main sanctuary is surrounded by terraces and courtyards, and its intricate carvings are also a subject of much photography of Wat Phou
Finally, as the mount to the west draws nearer, visitors can ascend to the upper level of Wat Phou. This level is the sanctuary itself, which looks out over a great panoramic view of the Mekong river to the east.
On the upper level of the Wat Phou, the crocodile stone is a formation worth seeking out. It has gained the notoriety of a being the site of human sacrifices in earlier times, but this legend has never been confirmed.
How to visit Wat Phou
To find a tour of the Wat Phou site that works with your itinerary, check out the Wat Phou half day tour. For those on a longer itinerary, the Wat Phou Mekong cruise is a three-day adventure down the mighty Mekong river with a guided stop in the Wat Phou site.
