Vat phou is a temple complex build in the pre – ankor time in the 5 th century . In the 6 th century it was the capital of mahendra varman who later moved to sambor pre kuk . Sambor pre kuk was last capital before Ankor thom in cambodia . So it is one of the earliest capital of khemer empire . Originally it was a shiva temple but after 12 th century Jayavarman VII restored some of the structures and finally converted this into a Buddhist Temple . The relief on the walls of the temple are mostly about the Hindu mythological stories which proofs that this structures were hindu temple before converted to Buddhism . Every year in the February full moon it becomes a pilgrimage area for the Buddhist people .
This temples were build in the foot hills of the Mountain whose summit looks like a Shiva linga . This unique shape attracts people for this temple from a long distance and it is believed to be a sacred mountain . In the monsoon time you can see the clouds covering the mountain top for sometime and then cleared again . It looks very beautiful in the monsoon time .
When you enter through this structures first you see is two barays . After that coming two symmetrical buildings and then coming a long walking area . On the both side of this walking trail there is several mukhalinga . Now you have to climb by the stone steps to reach the exact temple in this complex .
With this temple there are also several temple like Nandin Temple , Nang Sida Temple , Thao tao and Tomo Temple . Which are spread around a 1 km radios from this temple . This temples are mostly build in the 12 th century . This all temple has pre ankorian symbol Mukhalinga which is a human head size linga .
Inside the temple there is a big Buddha statue in sitting posture . There are also lots of smaller statues of Buddha . People present flowers and different food items to worship god . This is a old building and the holy place for Laotian people . Beside this temple there is Holy spring , Buddha foot and the crocodile , snake and elephant staircase . There is stories of Human sacrifice in the crocodile staircase earlier but not proven .
How to reach to Vat Phou :
Vat Phou is a temple recognized by UNESCO and situated in the Champasak province of Laos . Though it was a famous archelogical site in Laos but there was no proper public transport to this area . I visited this place from Pakse town . The songthaw leaves from Dao Huang market in the morning 7 , 8 , 9 am but they will not leave until this are full . Sometime they leave in proper time but sometimes too much late . This songthaw will charge 50000 Laotian KIP and drop you exactly in the gate of Vat Phou .
But they might not be reliable when returning to the city . The driver tells me that he will return from vat phou at 2pm but I waited too long but no songthaw from that place . Finally I got a lift from a local person , so safely I return Pakse . From that area you don’t have any taxi . So wise decision would be to hire a car for the return trip from the city . The place is very rural and there is no proper tourist facility .
Summary :
Vat phou is a pre ankor temple build in the 5 th century . This place was also the capital of Mahendra varman in the 6 th century and later the capital moved to sambor pre kuk and finally in the Ankor thom . This place is also the sacred place for both Buddhist and Hindus . The summit of this mountain looks like a shiva linga and believed to be the symbol of Mt Meru . First it was a Shiva temple (Mukkha linga are proof of that ) but around 12 th century , it was converted into the Buddhist Temple . There is no proper public transport to this site so better will be to hire your own vehicle .
