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 Wat
Phu
 Wat
Phu (mountain
temple) is a site that dates back to the 5th century.
The original temple was built by the Khmer Hindus at the top
of a hill at the site of a fresh water spring. The peak
of the hill is said to resemble a lingum or Shiva Phallus.
The exact history of Wat Phu is unclear, but was certainly the
site of a temple of the Khmer empire that eventually made Ankor
Wat its capital. The temple is stunning, and very remote,
with superb views of the Mekong valley. At the top of
the temple site are a number of carved rocks, resembling a crocodile,
a naga and an elephant. It is believed that these rocks
were used for human sacrifice.
To
get to the temple complex from Pakse, the most pleasant way
is by chartering a boat down the Mekong. The journey to
the town of Champassak takes about one and a half hours.
From Champassak, a tuk tuk can be taken to the temple, about
8km away.
Reliefs from Wat
Phu
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