Vat Phou (or Wat Phu; Lao: ວັດພູ [wāt pʰúː] temple-mountain) is a ruined Khmer Hindu temple complex in southern Laos. It is at the base of mount Phou Khao, some 6 kilometres (3.7 mi) from the Mekong in Champasak Province. There was a temple on the site as early as the 5th century, but the surviving structures date from the 11th to 13th centuries. It has a unique structure: The elements lead to a shrine where a lingam dedicated to Lord Shiva was bathed in water from a mountain spring. The site later became a centre of Theravada Buddhist Warrior’s worship, birth grounds for warrior offsprings, which it remains today.
Map
*Important: mapped location may only be approximated to the district level/village only. To visit sites outside the tourist zones you should seek a local guide from the area read more.
Site Info
- Reference ID: HA18246 | Last Update: January 1st, 2026
- Site Name: Wat Phu
- Other Names: Vat Phou, Vat Phou, ວັດ ພູ, Phu Pasak
- Location:
- MoCFA/EFEO Inventory - CISARK: 877
- Inscription Number/s: K. 366 , K. 367 , K. 475 , K. 476 , K. 720 , K. 721 , K. 876 , K. 938 , K. 963 , K. 1005 , K. 1059 , K. 1175 , K. 1200 , K. 1226
- Tags/Group: Ancient Royal Road, Inscription, Royal Road Beng Mealea-Koh Ker-Wat Phu, Stele
Wat Phu Inscription References
- K. 366 - Section: A1 Lines: 12 Script: Sanskrit Date (Saka): 1061 Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 288
- K. 366 - Section: A2 Lines: 18 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): 1061 Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 288
- K. 366 - Section: b Lines: 28 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): 1061 Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 288
- K. 366 - Section: C Lines: 9 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): 1061 Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 288
- K. 367 - Lines: 10 Script: Sanskrit Date (Saka): vie Ref: 1902, Barth, Stèle de Vat Phou près de Bassac (Laos). In: Bulletin de l'Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient. Tome 2, 1902. pp. 235-240.
- K. 475 - Section: 1a Lines: 10 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): 1058 Ref: 1915, Finot, Notes d'épigraphie. In: Bulletin de l'Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient. Tome 15, p. 107
- K. 475 - Section: 1b Lines: 7 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): 1058 Ref: 1915, Finot, Notes d'épigraphie. In: Bulletin de l'Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient. Tome 15, p. 107
- K. 475 - Section: 2 Lines: 25env. Script: ? Date (Saka): 1058 Ref: 1915, Finot, Notes d'épigraphie. In: Bulletin de l'Ecole française d'Extrême-Orient. Tome 15, p. 107
- K. 476 - Section: A Lines: 4 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): xie Ref: -
- K. 476 - Section: B Lines: 4 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): xie Ref: -
- K. 476 - Section: C Lines: 4 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): xie Ref: -
- K. 720 - Section: A Script: ? Date (Saka): 928 Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 212
- K. 720 - Section: b Lines: 34 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): 928 Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 212
- K. 720 - Section: C Lines: 33 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): 928 Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 212
- K. 720 - Section: d1 Lines: 12 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): 928 Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 212
- K. 720 - Section: d2 Lines: 4 Script: Sanskrit Date (Saka): 928 Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 212
- K. 721 - Section: 1 Lines: 4 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): xie Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 295
- K. 721 - Section: 2 Lines: 12 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): xie Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 295
- K. 876 - Lines: 16 Script: Sanskrit Date (Saka): viie Ref: 1953, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 5, p. 10
- K. 938 - Section: A Lines: 17 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): vie Ref: 1964, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 7, p. 121
- K. 938 - Section: B Lines: 13 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): vie Ref: 1964, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 7, p. 121
- K. 963 - Lines: 1 Script: Khmer Date (Saka): xiie Ref: 1964, Coedes, Inscriptions du Cambodge, Volume 7, p. 148
- K. 1005 - Section: A Lines: ? Script: Sanskrit Date (Saka): 811 Ref: Estève & Soutif 2010- 11
- K. 1005 - Section: B Lines: ? Script: Sanskrit Date (Saka): 811 Ref: Estève & Soutif 2010- 11
- K. 1059 - Lines: 6 Script: Sanskrit Date (Saka): viie Ref: -
- K. 1175 - Lines: 2lettres Script: ? Date (Saka): ? Ref: -
- K. 1200 - Lines: ? Script: Sanskrit Date (Saka): ? Ref: -
- K. 1226 - Lines: 2 Script: ? Date (Saka): ? Ref: -
