Wat Phou, meaning “temple on the mountain” is believed to have been built in the 6th century as a tribute to the Hindu god Shiva, it has also been said by some scholars to have been the blueprint for Angkor Wat and other temples in modern day Cambodia.
Wat Phou, although small in comparison with its counter parts in Cambodia, more than delivers as the elaborate shiva-lingam sanctuary, mysterious crocodile stone and overgrown feel all add to the spiritual and mystical atmosphere. For the energetic you can walk up the hill to the upper platform where you will be afforded wonderful views of the Mekong River plain. There are dozens of other lesser temple sites dotted about the area including the fascinating Wat Oum Muong located just across the Mekong River. The whole area was given UNESCO World Heritage status in 2001.
Wat Phou Hotels
La Folie Lodge$$
The large, comfortable bedrooms, luxuriously decorated and exquisitely furnished with local materials, are housed in bungalows set in a magnificently landscaped tropical garden. Each room has its own balcony with stunning views over the Mekong and the sacred hills of Wat Phou. Daily vistas of superb sunsets and traditional scenes of fishermen in hollowed out tree canoes await you.
The poolside restaurant, open-aired but sheltered by a graceful wooden roof, offers continental cuisine an...
Kingfisher EcoLodge$$
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