Buddha Park – Xieng Khuan Attraction
Buddha Park, also known as Xieng Khuan (as well as other variations of the spelling), is a sculpture park 25 km southeast from Vientiane, Laos in a meadow by the Mekong River. Although it is not a temple (Wat), it may be referred to as Wat Xieng Khuan (Lao: ວັດຊຽງຄວນ;Thai: วัดเซียงควน) since it contains numerous religious images. The name Xieng Khuan means Spirit City. The park contains over 200 Hindu and Buddhist statues. The socialist government operates Buddha Park as a tourist attraction and public park.
Overview
The park was started in 1958 by Luang Pu (Venerable Grandfather) Bunleua Sulilat. Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat was a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism. His unique perspective was influenced by a Hindu rishi under whom he studied in Vietnam. After the revolution in 1975, anxious about the repercussions of the rule of Pathet Lao, he fled from Laos to Thailand where he built another sculpture park, Sala Keoku in Nong Khai. Both parks are located right next to the Thai-Lao border (Mekong river), only a few kilometres apart from each other, and the tallest structures of the Buddha Park can actually be seen from the Thai side of Mekong.
The statues are made of reinforced concrete and are ornate, and sometimes bizarre, in design. The statues appear to be centuries old, though they are not. There are sculptures of humans, gods, animals, and demons. There are numerous sculptures of Buddha, characters of Buddhist beliefs like Avalokiteśvara, and characters of Hindu lore, including Shiva, Vishnu, and Arjuna. These sculptures were presumably cast by unskilled workers under the supervision of Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat. One notable sculpture resembles a giant pumpkin.[1] It has three stories representing three levels – Hell, Earth and Heaven. Visitors can enter through an opening which is a mouth of a 3-metre-tall demon head (9.8 ft) and climb staircases from hell to heaven. Each story contains sculptures depicting the level. At the top, there is a vantage point where the entire park is visible. Another sculpture, an enormous 40-metre-long (130 ft) reclining Buddha, is also a park attraction.
Buddha Park Highlights
Vientiane endears itself to visitors for its best sights that best reflect the soul of a former trading post. Being home to a number of top attractive tourist destinations including the renowned COPE Visitor Center, Pha That Luang, Wat Ong Teu Mahawihan, Laos Textile Museum or Xieng Khuan, Vientiane, for sure, offers best experience beyond your wildest dream and Buddha Park is definitely a not-to-be-missed place.
Erected in 1958 by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat, Buddha Park is home to not only Buddha images but also Hindu gods, coupled with demons and animals originating from both Buddhism and Hindu beliefs. Among a broad collection of Buddha and Hindu images, most remarkable ones are Indra, a for-armed deity sitting on a horse, an deity with 12 faces and plentiful hands, the king of Hindu gods who riding the three-headed elephant. Each image comes in various sizes and amazingly interesting motifs.
In addition to exploring some of the world’s most renowned ancient images and statues of the Buddha Park, the park offers an extremely relaxing and comfortable break where you can take time to have a sip of your favorite refreshing drink and enjoy the most tranquil time ever by relishing the spectacular and stunning sunset over the Mekong River. There is no better way to live life to the utmost than savor scrumptious local eatery including papaya salads, fried banana and cold Lao beer. Actually, Buddha Park is still one of the most refreshingly laid-back lands of the country attracting both visitors and backpackers from every corner of the world.
Further Information about Buddha Park
Opening hours: every day from 8:00 to 18:00
Location: Buddha Park is 25 kilometers away to the southeast if Vientiane, along the Mekong River.
How to get Buddha: You are advised to go by tuk tuk or public bus.