{{Short description|UNESCO World Heritage Site in Champasak, Laos}} {{Infobox UNESCO World Heritage Site | WHS = Vat Phou and Associated Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape | image = Champasak, Laos, Wat Poo 03.jpg | image_upright = 1.2 | caption = Causeway, looking towards the sanctuary | location = Champasak Province, Laos | criteria = {{UNESCO WHS type|(iii)(iv)(vi)}}(iii)(iv)(vi) | ID = 481 | coordinates = {{coord|14|50|54|N|105|49|20|E|format=dms|type:landmark_region:LA|display=inline,title}} | year = 2001 | area = {{convert|39,000|ha|acre|abbr=on}} | locmapin = Laos | map_caption = }}
'''Vat Phou''' is a ruined Khmer-Hindu temple complex in southern Laos. There was a sanctuary on the site, centred on a spring and an offering place for a tutelary sprit dating back to pre-historic times. The first megalithic stone structures had been built probably as early as the second century BCE, consisting of two stone cells, a carving of a crocodile, serpent stairs, and offering platforms.<ref name=":0">{{Cite journal |last=Gabel |first=Joachim |year=2022 |title=Earliest Khmer Stone Architecture and its Origin: A Case Study of Megalithic Remains and Spirit Belief at the Site of Vat Phu. |url=https://doi.org/10.34780/8a3v-k1ib |journal=Journal of Global Archaeology|pages=2–137 |doi=10.34780/8a3v-k1ib }}</ref> One of the pre-Angkor brick buildings onsite was erected in the 7th century and became the focus of consequent building activities.<ref name=":0" />
==History== thumb|left|Northern palace in the Wat Phou complex. [[Image:Watphoupeaklinga03.jpg|thumb|Phou Khao has a natural lingam on its peak.]] Vat Phou was initially associated with the city of Shrestapura,<ref name=Coedes>{{cite book|last= Cœdès|first= George|author-link= George Cœdès|editor= Walter F. Vella|others= trans.Susan Brown Cowing|title= The Indianized States of Southeast Asia|year= 1968|publisher= University of Hawaii Press|isbn= 978-0-8248-0368-1}}</ref>{{rp|66}} which lay on the bank of the Mekong directly east of Lingaparvata Mountain (later called Phou Khao).{{ref|PRAL01}} By the latter part of the fifth century, the city was the capital of a kingdom that texts and inscriptions connect with the Chenla Kingdom and Champa. The first structure on the mountain was constructed around this time.{{ref|Free01}} The mountain gained spiritual importance from the lingam-shaped protuberance on its summit. The mountain itself was, therefore, considered the home of Shiva, and the river as representing the ocean or the Ganges.{{ref|UN01}} The earliest known inscription found at the site, the ''Văt Luong Kău Inscription'' (K.365), mentions the name of Devanika, who established a sacred ''tīrtha'' in the area.<ref name="Coedes1956">{{cite journal |last=Coedès |first=Georges |title=Nouvelles données sur les origines du royaume khmèr: la stèle de Văt Luong Kău près de Văt P’hu |journal=Bulletin de l’École française d’Extrême-Orient |language=fr|year=1956 |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=209–220 |url=https://www.persee.fr/doc/befeo_0336-1519_1956_num_48_1_1288|archivedate=13 March 2026|archiveurl=https://archive.org/details/nouvelles-donnees-sur-les-origines-du-royaume-khmer-la-stele-de-vat-luong-kau-pres-de-vat-phu}} </ref>{{rp|210–5}}<ref name="Zakharov2019">{{cite journal|first=Anton O.|last=Zakharov|date=2014|title=Надпись Деваники из Ват Луонг Кау (Лаос) K.365. Вступ. ст., пер. с санскрита и коммент.|pages=142–148|language=ru|trans-title=The Inscription of Devānīka from Văt Luong Kău K.365: A Translation into Russian with a Commentary|journal=Vostok (Oriens)|issue=2|archivedate=13 March 2026|archiveurl=https://archive.org/details/k_20260313_202603|accessdate=13 March 2026|url=https://www.academia.edu/11342590/%D0%9D%D0%B0%D0%B4%D0%BF%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%8C_%D0%94%D0%B5%D0%B2%D0%B0%D0%BD%D0%B8%D0%BA%D0%B8_%D0%B8%D0%B7_%D0%92%D0%B0%D1%82_%D0%9B%D1%83%D0%BE%D0%BD%D0%B3_%D0%9A%D0%B0%D1%83_%D0%9B%D0%B0%D0%BE%D1%81_K_365_%D0%92%D1%81%D1%82%D1%83%D0%BF_%D1%81%D1%82_%D0%BF%D0%B5%D1%80_%D1%81_%D1%81%D0%B0%D0%BD%D1%81%D0%BA%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%82%D0%B0_%D0%B8_%D0%BA%D0%BE%D0%BC%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D1%82_%D0%92%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BA_%D0%90%D1%84%D1%80%D0%BE_%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%B0%D1%82%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B8%D0%B5_%D0%BE%D0%B1%D1%89%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B2%D0%B0_%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%BE%D1%80%D0%B8%D1%8F_%D0%B8_%D1%81%D0%BE%D0%B2%D1%80%D0%B5%D0%BC%D0%B5%D0%BD%D0%BD%D0%BE%D1%81%D1%82%D1%8C_2014_2_%D0%A1_142_148}}</ref>{{rp|142–3}}
A festival is held on the site each February. Boundary posts along the path were restored. Vat Phou was designated a World Heritage Site in 2001.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/481|title=Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champasak Cultural Landscape|last=Centre|first=UNESCO World Heritage|website=whc.unesco.org|language=en|access-date=2017-08-06}}</ref>
== Conservation projects == After the first scientific description on the 19th and 20th century there was less scientific activity at the site until the 1990s. With the Lao-UNESCO projects starting in 1987 and the designation as UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001 archeologic and conservation activities increased. Examples of conservation projects are:<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://vatphou-champassak.com/en/current-projects|title=Scientifics missions|last=bazin|first=david|website=vatphou-champassak.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-01-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202105459/http://vatphou-champassak.com/en/current-projects|archive-date=2017-02-02|url-status=dead}}</ref> * Global Heritage Fund, in association with the Lerici Institute (Italy) and the government of Laos, is providing emergency conservation of temple structures at this largest of archaeological sites in Laos.{{ref|GHF1}} The stabilization and sustained conservation of Nandin Hall is the primary focus of these efforts. The Global Heritage Fund-led team is working with local communities for training and development.{{ref|GHF2}} * '''2005-2012''': French-Lao cooperation project (French Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs / Lao Ministry of Information and Culture): Priority Solidarity Funds "Vat Phou-Champasak, enhancement and development of the historical and cultural heritage" (FSP 2005-75). This project included restoration of the northern hall of the southern quadrangle (palace), cultural project on the intangible heritage of Champasak: Rediscovery of the Champasak Shadow Puppet Theatre and organization of a theatre tour in the villages of the district of Champasak accompanied by Cinema Tuk-tuk, Layout of the 'Sala' and surroundings of Vat Phou site. Objectives of the project were: institutional support for the creation of a body specialized management of the site, training of the scientific, technical and administrative staff, and development of the site and its economic valuation. * '''2006''': Restoration project for the temple of Nandin by the Italian mission * '''2009''': Restoration project for the northern palace by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The Indian Team from Archaeological survey of India, headed by R. S. Jamwal, conducted studies of foundations, drainage problems, super structural elements and did the documentation, recording, survey work etc. for the Northern Quadrangle of temple complex. * '''2010:''' Restoration project for the southern palace, with Jean-Marc Houlteau, stonemason. * '''2011:''' Restoration project for the southern quadrangle (palace), with Jean-Marc Simon-Bernardini and Johann Gautreau, stonemasons. * '''2014:''' Non-intrusive stone analyses, by Christian Fischer.
== Presentation and visits == Vat Phou is open to the public for religious activities and tourist visits. The site features a museum which houses artifacts of the temple complex of centuries, such as statues of Shiva, Vishnu and Nandin, and Buddhist statues.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Vat Phou Champassak. The Temple of the Mountain. Visitor's Guide|last=Vat Phou Champassak World Heritage Department|publisher=Vat Phou Champassak World Heritage Department|year=2012|isbn=978-9932-000-62-3}}</ref> The museum building has been limited to a specific size to minimize altering the underground site and the view.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.vatphou-champassak.com/en/exhibition-hall|title=Exhibition Hall|last=Administrator|website=www.vatphou-champassak.com|language=en-gb|access-date=2017-01-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202105118/http://www.vatphou-champassak.com/en/exhibition-hall|archive-date=2017-02-02|url-status=dead}}</ref>
==Notes== {{reflist}} <!-- Instructions for adding a footnote: NOTE: Footnotes in this article use names, not numbers. Please see Wikipedia:Footnote3 for details. 1) Assign your footnote a unique name, for example TheSun_Dec9. 2) Add the macro {{ref|TheSun_Dec9}} to the body of the article, where you want the new footnote. 3) Take note of the name of the footnote that immediately proceeds yours in the article body. 4) Add #{{Note|TheSun_Dec9}} to the list, immediately below the footnote you noted in step3. 5) Multiple footnotes to the same reference will not work: you must insert two uniquely named footnotes. NOTE: It is important to add the Footnote in the right order in the list. --> #{{note|PRAL01}} Projet de Recherches en Archaeologie Lao. ''Vat Phu: The Ancient City, The Sanctuary, The Spring'' (pamphlet). #{{note|Free01}} Freeman, ''A Guide to Khmer Temples in Thailand and Laos'' p. 200-201. #{{note|UN01}} ICOMOS [https://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/481.pdf report] p. 71. #{{note|UN02}} ICOMOS [https://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/481.pdf report] p. 72. #{{note|GHF1}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20090409123338/http://www.globalheritagefund.org/where/wat_phu.html Global Heritage Fund - Where We Work - Wat Phu, Laos] Accessed on 2009-04-28. #{{note|GHF2}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20090409123338/http://www.globalheritagefund.org/where/wat_phu.html Global Heritage Fund - Where We Work - Wat Phu, Laos] Accessed on 2009-04-28.
==References== * É. Aymonier, ''Le Cambodge. II Les provinces siamoises'', Paris 1901; * E. Lunet de Lajonquiére, ''Inventaire descriptif des monuments d’Indochine. Le Cambodge'', II, Paris 1907; * H. Marchal, ''Le Temple de Vat Phou, province de Champassak'', Éd. du département des Cultes du Gouvernement royal du Laos * H Parmentier, «Le temple de Vat Phu», ''Bulletin de l’École Française d’Extrême-Orient'', 14/2, 1914, p. 1-31; * M. Freeman, ''A Guide to Khmer Temples in Thailand and Laos''. Weatherhill 1996. {{ISBN|0-8348-0450-6}}. * M. Santoni ''et al.'', «Excavations at Champasak and Wat Phu (Southern Laos) », in R. Ciarla, F. Rispoli (ed.), ''South-East Asian Archaeology 1992'', Roma 1997, p. 233-63; * M. Cucarzi, O. Nalesini ''et al.'', «Carta archeologica informatizzata: il progetto UNESCO per l’area di Wat Phu», in B. Amendolea (ed.), ''Carta archeologica e pianificazione territoriale'', Roma 1999, p. 264-71; * ''UNESCO Champasak Heritage Management Plan'', Bangkok 1999 [http://www.unescobkk.org/fileadmin/user_upload/culture/Vat_Phou]; * International Council on Monuments and Sites [https://whc.unesco.org/archive/advisory_body_evaluation/481.pdf report on World Heritage Site application], September 2001; * O. Nalesini, «Wat Phu», in ''Enciclopedia archeologica. Asia'', Roma 2005. * Ch. Higham. ''The Civilization of Angkor''. Phoenix 2001. {{ISBN|1-84212-584-2}}. * Projet de Recherches en Archaeologie Lao. ''Vat Phu: The Ancient City, The Sanctuary, The Spring'' (pamphlet). * [https://web.archive.org/web/20090409123338/http://www.globalheritagefund.org/where/wat_phu.html Global Heritage Fund - Where We Work - Wat Phu, Laos] Accessed on 2009-04-28. * Recherches nouvelles sur le Laos - [http://www.efeo.fr/ EFEO](école française d'extrême orient) - Yves Goudineau & Michel Lorrillard - 2008 - 678 pages. * Gabel, J. 2022 [https://publications.dainst.org/journals/joga/article/view/3968 Earliest Khmer Stone Architecture and its Origin: A Case Study of Megalithic Remains and Spirit Belief at the Site of Vat Phu.] In: JoGA 2022: 2–137.
==External links== {{Commons and category|Wat Phou|Wat Phou}} * [http://www.vatphu-champasak-laos.com/ Official Vat Phu Website - history, timetable, news, projects, and more] *[http://globalheritagefund.org/what_we_do/overview/current_projects/wat_phu_laos/ Wat Phu preservation project summary] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209071516/http://globalheritagefund.org/what_we_do/overview/current_projects/wat_phu_laos |date=2010-12-09 }} at Global Heritage Fund *[http://ghn.globalheritagefund.org/?id=10 Explore Wat Phu with Google Earth] on Global Heritage Network *{{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20090405213047/http://www.laos-travel-guide.com/wat-phu.html Laos Travel Guide Wat Phu Champasak]}} {{Angkorian sites}} {{World Heritage Sites in Laos}}
Category:5th-century Hindu temples Category:Angkorian sites in Laos Category:Buddhist temples in Laos Category:Buildings and structures in Champasak province Category:Hindu temples in Laos Category:World Heritage Sites in Laos