Buddha Park (aka Xieng Khuan) is an attractive tourist spot in Vientiane; Xieng Khuan means Spirit city. Though a public park, it is often referred to as Wat Xieng Khuan owing to the many religious images that are to be found here. The park boasts of more than 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues. The park entrance is shaped like a demon’s mouth & there is a stone ladder which guides the visitors to a bird’s view of the entire park. Of all the images, the 40-metre high reclining Buddha is the most popular and draws the biggest crowd. Another popular attraction is the 3 storied pumpkin structure, which represents the three levels i.e. Hell, Earth And Heaven. Visitors can climb the stairs to each level & each of the stories contains images representing that specific level.
The park was designed and built by Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat in 1958, who believed in a unique integrated form of Buddhism and Hinduism. This is evident in the overall theme of the park which reflects images from both the beliefs. Following the revolution of 1975, Luang Pu Bunleua Sulilat fled to Thailand, where he is credited with building another sculpture park - Sala Keoku.
Opening Hours: Daily from 08:00 – 18:00
Location: About 25 kilometers southeast of Vientiane, along the Mekong River
How to get there: The Buddha Park can be reached by public bus or tuk tuk