Wat Phu is an ancient Khmer temple located in Champasak Province, southern Laos, near the border with Cambodia. The temple was initially built over several centuries, with structures dating back to the 5th century CE. However, the surviving structures were largely constructed in the 11th century under the Khmer Empire, specifically during the reign of Suryavarman I. It stands as a remarkable testament to the region's rich cultural and spiritual history.
Situated on the slopes of Mount Phu Kao, the temple much closely resembles the Preah Vihear temple, which lies atop Mount Dang Rek in Cambodia's Preah Vihear Province. Wat Phu was originally dedicated to the Hindu god Shiva, reflecting the religious influence of that time. However, in the 13th century, the temple was transformed into a Buddhist monastery. Today, it remains an important place of worship for Buddhists in Laos.
Historically, the site was part of several powerful kingdoms. It belonged to the Phnom Kingdom as early as the 1st century, later becoming part of the Chenla Kingdom in the 5th century. From the 10th to the 13th century, it was under the Champasak domain, and finally became part of the Lan Xang Kingdom from the 14th to the 18th century.
Wat Phu was officially recognized as Laos' second UNESCO World Heritage Site—after Luang Prabang—on December 16, 2001.
For Khmer visitors, Wat Phu is accessible via the Trapeang Kriel international border checkpoint in Stung Treng Province, Cambodia, followed by a road journey of approximately 150 kilometers. For visitors staying in Pakse, the temple is about 45 kilometers away, or roughly a 50-minute drive by motorbike or car along the Mekong River.
The entrance fee is 30,000 kip per person, which includes a golf cart ride covering about one kilometer from the ticket booth to the temple gate.
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