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Laos - Vientiane - Sights- Xieng Khuan

Xieng Khuan
Address Buddha Park or Suan Phut, Xieng Khuan

Keyword monument, religious/spiritual

In a field by the Mekong River about 24km south of central Vientiane, Xieng Khuan is a park full of Buddhist and Hindu sculpture that is a monument to one eccentric man's quite bizarre ambition. Xieng Khuan was designed and built in 1958 by Luang Pu (Venerable Grandfather) Bunleua Sulilat, a yogi-priest-shaman who merged Hindu and Buddhist philosophy, mythology and iconography into a cryptic whole.

Originally, Bunleua is supposed to have studied under a Hindu rishi (sage) who lived in Vietnam. Legend has it that their meeting was fortunate, to say the least, as while Bunleua was walking in the mountains he fell through a sinkhole and landed in the rishi 's lap. As you do. Bunleua developed a large following in Laos and northeastern Thailand, and moved to Thailand around the time of the 1975 Revolution. In 1978, he established the similarly inspired Wat Khaek in Nong Khai, Thailand. He died in 1996. The concrete sculptures at Xieng Khuan (which means Spirit City) are bizarre but compelling in their naive confidence. They include statues of Shiva, Vishnu, Arjuna, Avalokiteshvara, Buddha and numerous other deities, all supposedly cast by untrained artists under Luang Pu's direction. The large pumpkin-shaped concrete monument in the grounds has three levels joined by interior stairways. The levels are said to represent hell, earth and heaven, and lead to the roof and panoramic views of the park. A few food vendors offer fresh coconuts, soft drinks, beer, pîng kai (grilled chicken) and tąm màak-hung (spicy green papaya salad). Xieng Khuan is a definite favourite among kids.

Other attractions in Vientiane: Lao National Museum | Papaya Spa | Patuxai | Pha That Luang | That Dam | Wat Si Muang | Wat Si Saket | Wat Sok Pa Luang | Xieng Khuan

 

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