Vat Phou Travel Guide

 o0pyromancer0o Says:  I presume this place is fairly deserted on an ordinary day, but I went there during the februrary festival when it was more crowded than the market place in Pakse. The temple itself is pleasantly situated, rising in tiers along the hillside in the jungle, and contains... 

 pattayaraj Says:  The main procession way to the Vat Phou covered with sandstone and pararelled with 2 long row galleries and posts called "Sao Nang Jaran" or Sao Nang Rieng". On the time I visitted this procession way was on renovation. 

 pattayaraj Says:  It was a diffecult time for me to ride the bicycle to Hong Nang Sida.But after I finished it,I got a good experience on this trip. Just attempt,I can get it. 

 pattayaraj Says:  From Vat Phou,I rode my bicycle to the South for Hong Nang Sida and Hong Tao Toa. I reached the first one with tired feeling,cuase the way to this building is a small road,a part of road was cutted by small canal.I passed some rice fields and local houses. And there 's no... 

 pattayaraj Says:  Inside the principal sanctaury is now housing the Buddha image.This sanctaury used to housed the statue of Siva Lingam as the symbol of God Siva. We can see so many Laos come with flowers to pay homage to this Buddha image. 

 pattayaraj Says:  The main sanctaury built from sandstone. The style of this building is Baphuon style of Ancient Khmer,dated back to 16 Buddhist centuries (for front sandstone building,but for back side building where built from brick,it presumed to be built before the front one). Inside,it... 

 pattayaraj Says:  On each side of the 3rd terrace,we can see the base in step design of the main sanctaury.From here,the stairway is the steepest way from others. 

 pattayaraj Says:  This terrace is the last one before step up to the main sanctuary.This terrace have a small balcony and balustrade.The steps to balcony decorated with moonstone in Ancient Khmer style. 

 pattayaraj Says:  On the 3rd terrace used to located 6 chapels which separated to 3 chapels of each side(North and South). The chapel just left as ruins. 

 pattayaraj Says:  The stairway of this section covered with frangipani trees,it was a wonderful moment to walk pass it though a bit tired with steep step. haha 

 pattayaraj Says:  Between the first terrace and second terrace located the temple guardian.This statue called "Phraya Kammatha" by local. The statue dated back to 18 Buddhist centuries.This statue is in standing position,the left hand places on chest and the right hand hold a stick. The name... 

 pattayaraj Says:  The first step tp the main sanctuary was on renovation when I visitted. It 's a steep stairway built from laterite and sandstone. It covered with Frangipani tree which made the step 's more beautiful than a plain way. 

 pattayaraj Says:  This entrance have a beautiful stone carving on the pediment.Though it was destroyed but you can see some holes which tells the style of roof as the sloping and decorated with tile on wooden structure. 

 pattayaraj Says:  A small building built from sandstone located on the South of the second procession way. This building called "Hong Ngou" means the house of cow, because it used to housed the cow statue. This statue called "Nandin" or Kho Usubharaj" as the vehicle of Siva God.This building... 

 pattayaraj Says:  Hong Tao and Hong Nang or so called "Southern Palace and Northern Palace". Hong Tao is on the North and Hong Nang is in the South. These 2 buildings 're in square plan surrounded the sqaure space in the centre. These building assumed to be built in Kor Ker period of Ancient... 

 pattayaraj Says:  From the entrance to Vat Phou,there 're 2 pathways for reaching the base.The new one covered with asphalt.And the old one is on the direction East-West to Vat Phou.This procession used to be the main pathway pararelled with posts in Ancient Khmer style on 2 side.This pathway... 

 pattayaraj Says:  Behide the mountain where located Vat Phou is a high mountain called "Phu Klao". This name derived from the shape of the peak look like the knot on lady's head. "Klao" means knot. This mountain also called " Khao Nom Sao" cuase of the shape look like breast. "Nom Sao" means... 

 pattayaraj Says:  At the entrance to Vat Phou area,you 'll see the museum building on the left. This museum 's very interested for me. It housed so many artifacts which found in Vat Phou and surrounded area. Some highlight artifacts 're Buddha image which have an influence of Dvaravati style...