CREATION OF THE CHAMPASAK LANDSCAPE - VAT PHOU, LAOS
Laos, the Land of a Thousand Elephants, captivates travelers with its unique culture. Vat Phou, meaning 'mountain temple', is a ruined Khmer Hindu temple over 1,000-year-old located in Champasak province and is considered one of the oldest archaeological sites in Laos. It attracts many tourists with its ancient architecture and historical tales.
The Vat Phou Temple in Laos was built before Angkor Wat.
The historic site of Champasak is an important cultural center in Laos, known for its heritage and traditions. Its importance for the ancient Khmers has led to its recognition as UNESCO World Heritage in 2001. Being the oldest religious site in the country, the annual festival of Vat Phou receives over 100,000 pilgrims.
It is one of the first pre-Angkor brick buildings onsite erected in the early 7th century. Most of the other surviving buildings date from the Angkor period, in the 11th—13th centuries.
This pre-Angkorian settlements were concentrated along the river. The Ancient City went into decline as of the 9th century when new developments took place near Vat Phou, at the foot of the mountain. We also know that following the decline of the Khmer Empire, from the 14th century, the population once again migrated back to the river.
The historic landscape of Champasak is the result of more than one thousand years of intense sedentary human occupation. This occupation was subject to population movements and changes which historical research has only begun to study.
Other than the Vat Phou monument, very few vestiges are still standing. For these, the UNESCO site classi cation le relies mostly on traces which are still visible on the ground. The landscape which was created by ancient human settlements in Champasak is still mostly unknown. Excavations have only been able to explore a tiny part of this heritage.
We are certain that pre-Angkorian settlements were concentrated along the river. The Ancient City went into decline as of the 9th century when new developments took place near Vat Phou, at the foot of the mountain. We also know that following the decline of the Khmer Empire, from the 14th century, the population once again migrated back to the river. It is, however, difficult to reconstitute this evolution more precisely for the moment.
Vat Phou Temple in Champasak is located in Southern Laos and is the oldest temple in Laos. It is a Khmer -Hindu temple and the oldest places of worship in Southeast Asia. It is located at the base of Mount Phon Khao 6 km from Mekong in Champasak province.
By the later part of the 5th Century the city was the capital of a kingdom with texts and inscription comments from Chenla Kingdom and Champa.
Pre-Angkorian temple lintel, photographed at its place of discovery, in a rice field in Ban Vat Louang Kao, in the Ancient City.
Top: Vat Phou temple is located at the base of Mount Phon Khao 6km from Mekong in Champasak province.
Top: Vat Phou Temple located near Don Daeng Island has the view of the chain Bassac mountains as shown here.
