(KPL) Wat Xiengkhuane, or also known by its English name Buddha Park, has become a favorite tourist destination of Vientiane, the capital city of the Lao PDR.

Wat Xiengkhuane was built in 1958 (BE 2501) by Venerable Monk Bounleua Sulilat, a priest-shaman who integrated Hinduism and Buddhism.

Inside the park, there is a large reclining Buddha statue which has been worshiped by local people. The 40-metre-long (130 ft) reclining Buddha forms the centerpiece attraction of the park.

The park is located in Hadxayfong district, some 25 km to the east of Vientiane, or just 5 minute drive from the 1st Lao-Thai Friendship Bridge.

Constructions and renovations have been conducted over the past couple of years to make the park more attractive to visitors. A new restaurant has been built along with new playgrounds, a cultural exhibition hall, souvenir shops and a flower garden. The newly built also include small huts for visitors to enjoy private celebrations or viewing the Mekong.

Most statues in the park are made of reinforced concrete and are ornate in design. They 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 from Hindu lore, including Shiva, Vishnu, and Arjuna.

One notable sculpture resembles a giant pumpkin. It has three stories, representing three levels of existence: hell, earth, and heaven. Visitors can enter through an opening, which is the mouth of a 3-metre-tall demon head (9.8 ft) and climb several staircases from hell to heaven, each story contains sculptures depicting the respective level. At the top, there is a vantage point, from which the entire park is visible.

KPL