Wat Phou in Champasak near Pakxé

Wat Phou in Champasak near Pakxé

The temple site of Wat Phou Champasak dates back to the Chenla Period (6th to 8th centuries) and was later part of the Khmer Angkor Empire (9th to 13th centuries). Although the surviving structures are not as grand as those near Siem Reap, Cambodia, the surrounding countryside makes a visit to Wat Phou well worth a stop for serious temple buffs and casual travelers alike.
Situated at the base of Phou Pasak (Pasak Mountain), Wat Phou ascends in three levels up the side of the mountain to the main temple sanctuary commanding breathtaking views of the countryside. This shows the temple on the third level.
Historians believe that this site was chosen by the Khmers because of a natural spring that flows from near the top of the mountain and also because the peak of Phou Pasak resembles a Shiva phallus.