Vat Phou and the holy mountain
Picture by marhasThe museum of Vat Phou shows this picture by Pierre Pichard.
Vat Phou has been founded by the Cham, according to the historians and was later one of the first temples of the Khmers outside Cambodia. The oldest ruins date from the fifth and sixth century. Vat Phou nestles at the base of Mount Phou Pasak, that got the name Lingaparvata, because on top a 60 metres high monolith reaches into the sky. This natural outcropping has led the people to consider it a sacred place long ago. It resembles to linga of Shiva, the god of the Hindu. To some visitors it resembles also a female breast. "Parvata" means "mountain," so "Lingaparvata" is literally "Linga Mountain." It is the same word-root as "Parvati" the name of Shiva's consort, a mountain-goddess, notes art-and-archaeology.com. Willard Van De Bogart tells the story of Lingaparvata, the story was also published with a lot of book references. Read also the official site description by the Museum of Vat Phu.
See a Wat Phu site map by globelheritagefund.org
Picture by marhas First yuu see one of the barays - a Khmer word for a lake. The barays symbolize the ozeans around the holy mountain Meru.
Picture by marhasThe first terrace of the temple complex
Picture by marhasThe way for the processions towards Vat Phou with Lingaparvata (right).
Picture by Alex Bunjes
Picture by marhasHo Thao, the palace on the south side of the procession way, a room for men.
Picture by VeigoHo Nang, the palace for women
Picture by marhasDecoration above the door
Picture by marhasThe walkway to the second terrace, flanked by milestones
Picture by marhasThe stairs up to the second terrace
Picture by marhasA Dvarapala, a guardian on the second terrace.
Picture Family Craps
Picture by marhasWay up to the stairs of the third terrace.
On top of all the stairs: the temple:
Picture Pigalle
Picture PigalleOver the main door
Picture by Veigo
Picture by Veigo
Picture by VeigoAt the left side of the main door
Picture Picture by Family CrapsShiva, Vishnou et Brama
Picture by marhasLook down: the processions way, the palaces and the barays.
See a Vat Phu Video by danychico
Since 2001 Vat Phou is part of Unesco World Heritage. Read more:
Official Unesco World Heritage-Page about Wat Phu
Every year for Makha Bousa (fullmoon day of the third lunar month) thousands of people celebrate the Vat Phou Festival.
Where to stay in Champasak
See the locations on Champasak and Vat Phou Google Map
Anouxsa Guesthouse: Good reviews on tripadvisor.com, "Champsak's best choice", comments travelfish.org
Daovone Guesthouse: From 5 USD. 6km south from the ferry crossing, closest guesthouse to Vat Phou.
Dok Champa Guest House: From 4 USD.
Kham Phuoy Guesthouse: "Excellent bamboo bungalows with concrete floors that would be close to the pick in town if they were on the riverbank", says travelfish.org
Picture by marhasSaythong Guesthouse: "Fine restaurant", notes travelfish.org, but "shabby" room.
Picture by marhasSouchitra Riverside: "Good mix of budget and upmarket accommodation", comments travelfish.org. Critical review on tripadvisor.com
Picture by marhasMaekhay Restaurant inside Souchitra Guesthouse on the Mekong
Vong Paseud Guesthouse: From 5 USD.
Don Daeng Island
See the locations on Don Daeng Google Map
Picture by Jérôme GuilmotMekong beach on Don Daeng
Picture by Jérôme GuilmotRural life on Don Daeng
Don Daeng is a tranquil island in the Mekong River with sandy beaches, where the traditional Lao rural life with rice farming, coconut and sugarcabe plantation, fishing and basket weaving is going on. A path leads around the island - suitable for bicycling. You find some small stores, where you get a noodle soup.
Where to stay on Don Daeng
La Folie Lodge: From 95 USD. See pictures by mbmplayhard, jenjenes5527.
See also this Video on Youtube
In the village Ban Hua Don Daeng you can stay overnight in a community lodge or with local families (mat, pillow and blanket on the floor). Conract the District Tourism office in Champasak or the Provincial Tourism Office in Pakse (phone +0856 031 212 021).
Vat Tomo - another Khmer remple
See the locations on Vat Phou and Vat Tomo Google Map
Vat Tomo (also called Ou Moung or Huei Thamo): On a boat trip you discover these temple ruins, set in a forest, about 11 km southeast of Vat Phou, on the east side of the Mekong near Ban Tomo. Vat Tomo consists of a laterite enclosure wall, two gateways in good condition and the original temple, which has collapsed. The ruins of the shrine's brick towers lie in the center of the enclosure. The temple dates from the 7th or 8th centuriy and and has been reconstructed in the 11th/12th century, during the Angkorian period. It seems it has been built first as the female counterpart to the Shiva Temple at Vat Phou, according to an inscription it was in 889 dedicated to Rudrani, the shakti of Shiva. "It houses a rare mukhalinga, a stone linga with two clearly-defined albeit gloomy faces", notes Andy Brower in his blog, who has good pictures. "It is the only one in Southeast Asia with four faces of Shiva looking in the four cardinal directions", writes Willard G. Van De Bogart.
Read also the description by travelfish.org. More pictures on kuradashieigakan.com.
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