On the banks of the Mekong,
Wat Muang Kang, the oldest temple in Champasak, is an architectural curiosity. Its library, an unexpected mix of French, Vietnamese, Burmese, and Laotian styles, surpasses in beauty the chapel inspired by Cambodian and Thai influences. Topped with a three-tiered roof and surrounded by pillars, it is sure to surprise you. But the highlight may be the mystical light that, at night, reflects on one of the temple towers to illuminate the sacred mountain of Wat Phu Champasak.
An undisputed gem of the province, the
classified site of Wat Phu is a must-visit for any traveler in Laos. Often overshadowed by monumental Angkor, Wat Phu Champasak thrives in a more magnificent natural setting, exuding a mystical, almost spiritual aura. It's easy to understand why, for millennia, local populations have revered this sacred mountain and why
UNESCO listed it as a World Heritage site in 2001. Organized into six terraces on three levels, the sanctuary occupies the upper level of the complex. Although a secular place of worship, most of the current buildings date back to the 11th century, under the Khmer Empire, thus demonstrating a millennia-old antiquity for some. At the site's entrance, the Wat Phu exhibition hall displays stone works from Wat Phu and the surrounding sites. You then cross an alley lined with barays, small ceremonial basins that are covered with lotus flowers during the rainy season.
Climbing the stairs to the second level reveals an open courtyard. Once crossed, two sandstone pavilions announce galleries where new stairs follow. The galleries house Hindu sculptures depicting Vishnu and Shiva. On the left, beyond the platform, stands the Nandi hall, a witness to the ancient royal road linking Angkor Wat to the site. Before reaching the upper level, it is possible to observe Thai and Laotian devotees making offerings to the dvarapala statue, guardian of the ascent, seeking his blessing before continuing towards the summit sanctuary. Not far away, two similar statues lie half-buried, one standing out as the largest dvarapala still existing within the Angkorian ruins.
The ultimate level reveals the heart of the ruins: Wat Phu. Filled with a myriad of Hindu and Buddhist sculptures, the sanctuary opens onto a Shiva lingam, once bathed by water from the sacred source located upstream, carried by sandstone conduits. Exploring the rear and surroundings of the sanctuary reveals a
Buddha footprint carved into the mountainside, as well as the famous elephant and crocodile stones. The place also lends itself to contemplating an exceptional panorama of the entire site.
Champasak offers a unique cultural experience: a Chinese shadow theater and a Tuktuk cinema. These initiatives revive the ancestral art of shadows to tell the famous Indian epic, the Ramayana.