Laos Spring-Bathed Shiva Linga

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Pakse, Champasak

If you keep going for about 46 kilometers south of Pakse, you will

reach Wat Phou, which is situated about 1,207 meters or 750 miles

above the sea. Believed to be built in the 6th century as a tribute

to Hindu god Shiva. This Hindu temple is believed to be the

blueprint of Angkor Wat and other temples in Cambodia – UNESCO has

recently accredited the place as World Heritage Site after Luang

Prabang City. The religious complex consists of 3 main sandstone

buildings; one is on the hilltop and the other temples are on the

foothill. On the upper level in the main sanctuary, one can see the

linga or a Shiva phallus bathing in water running from the spring

behind the complex. You can walk up the hill to the upper platform

for a wonderful view of the Mekong plain.

 

Champasak Province lies in the southwestern part of Laos, which once

had been part of the Cambodian Angkor Empire before the French

arrived. It has the Mekong River as one of its transportation

arteries and encompasses the vast lush, fertile pieces of land that

encourage the rice cultivation - it is the largest rice cultivator

of this aged-old country. Within its proximity, there are still

various Mon-Khmer ethnic groups including the Laven. What can be

seen here are rustic thatch huts, local agricultural practices, the

century-long traditions and the still-primal way of life.

 

Officially, Pakse is the capital city of Champasak province and the

largest city in southern Laos. It is located on the confluence of

the Mekong and Se Don Rivers. The city is well known with its hand-

woven silks and cotton. The textiles are at bargain prices and can

be found at the bustling outdoor market along the river. It is the

market town of around 60,000 people and the departure point to many

attractions all around.

The city itself is not extremely attractive in terms of a tourist

site, yet it is well known as the bustling market town of around

60,000 people and the departure point to many attractions all

around. At the market, apart from local specialties such as tea,

coffee, fruits and vegetables, one can easily find colorful hill-

tribe clothes and textiles and jewelry. A city tour can be done

within a day; recommended places are Champasak Provincial Museum,

where some precious hill-tribes costumes and ornaments are kept; Wat

Phat Baht; Champasak Palace Hotel, which was originally built by

Prince Boun Oum na Champasak who was the heir of the Champasak

kingdom; and Chinese Society House that features the colonial

architecture. Tuk-tuks, motorized tricycle, are the most convenient

way to travel around the town.

 

The most attractive site is Si Pan Don or the Four Thousands Islands

where thousands of isles and sandbars rise from the Mekhong River –

this is the widest part of the river's breadth, expanding about 14

kilometers or nine miles. The islands can be seen from January to

March and will be submerged during the monsoon period, from May to

November.

 

Don Khong is the largest island in southern Laos where permanent

residents of farmers and fishermen are approximately of 55,000. The

most spectacular natural wonder is Khon Phapaeng, the biggest

waterfall in Southeast Asia that is naturally made out of Mekhong

River. The waterfall can be reached in less than two hours from

Pakse City. Nearby is Don Khone of which the sight of Irrawaddy

freshwater dolphin is visible during the dry season. It is also on

this island where the Mekong Dolphin Conservation Center is located.

 

If you keep going for about 46 kilometers south of Pakse, you will

reach Wat Phou, which is situated about 1,207 meters or 750 miles

above the sea. Believed to be built in the 6th century as a tribute

to Hindu god Shiva. This Hindu temple is believed to be the

blueprint of Angkor Wat and other temples in Cambodia – UNESCO has

recently accredited the place as World Heritage Site after Luang

Prabang City. The religious complex consists of 3 main sandstone

buildings; one is on the hilltop and the other temples are on the

foothill. On the upper level in the main sanctuary, one can see the

linga or a Shiva phallus bathing in water running from the spring

behind the complex. You can walk up the hill to the upper platform

for a wonderful view of the Mekong plain.

 

Across the Mekhong River near Wat Phu is another Khmer religious

monument called Wat Oum Muong. The temple is located on Tomo River

and believed to be the construction ground where the sandstones and

laterite were carved and shipped to Wat Phu through the small river.

The place is off the beaten track and protected by the wood.