Working in partnership with UNESCO World Heritage Centre Asia Pacific, the Laos National People's Committee for Conservation of Heritage and Monuments and the Lerici Institute, GHF will fund a major emergency stabilization and conservation program. GHF support will be fundamental to increasing the economic potential for tourism of Wat Phu and community development around Wat Phu in Champasak.

Above: Global Heritage Fund is currently funding conservation and stabilization of the Wat Phu palace complex, seen here prior to GHF-funded intervention, is in danger of collapse from destruction, neglect and seasonal flooding.

At the lowest level, oriented east west, there is a large baray, some 200 m by 600 m, probably built around the 10th to 11th century AD. It is flanked on its western side by an elaborate stone embankment, now crowned incongruously by a ruinous pavilion built in the 1960’s.

To the north are two further large baray constructed by building up earth dykes. One of those barays, immediately to the north of the first baray was built around the end of 11th and the beginning of 12th century AD. From the first terrace, by the stone embankment, runs the processional causeway, flanked by typical stone pyranidae pillars, used to embellish the ceremonial road.

The temple complex was built on six terraces. The first terrace is over 130 m deep from east to west. The front third is occupied by two large, rectangular stone buildings flanking an esplanade, 44 m wide. Each building is a quadrangle of four galleries around a wide courtyard, with overall dimensions of 62 m by 42 m. Facing each other and parallel to the general axis, the main gallery of each quadrangle opens onto the esplanade through a projecting porch, with very elaborately carved doorways, and is connected to the other three galleries by doors located at its extremities.

These buildings have been identified in the past as palaces. Present research suggests however that they might have been used for ceremonial purposes, praying for good fortune, and hosting a number of monks during the ceremonial period. Judging from the stylistic aspects of architecture – the style of Koh Ker, it is dated the beginning of 11th century AD.

The western part of the first terrace is an open space rising slightly towards the foot of the second terrace. On the main axis, a walkway is bordered by regularly spaced milestones, and by the foundations of former galleries that were covered by a wooden-and-tiled roof on wood pillars.

Above: Nandin Hall - an early focus of GHF funding in 2006 - 2007.

The Nandin Hall
To the south is a small, isolated, rectangular building in sandstone, with pillared porches at its north and south sides, traditionally called the Nandin Hall, dated to the mid-11th century AD. While its original purpose remains unknown, it may be connected to the old royal road, of which it very precisely marks the end. This type of rectangular building with a porch at both ends is not very common in Khmer architecture, especially as an isolated structure.

Fieldwork in 1998 has shown a building of similar size symmetrically placed to the north of the axial path.

Raised about 2m above the first one by a retaining wall, the second terrace forms a landing on the main axis. This was flanked by two small structures that were dedicated to the king, King Dvarajala. One of these is still standing and both are dated from the 13th century AD. The headless stone sculptures of two tall guardians are lying on the grass, together with other fragments.

A flight of stairs between retaining walls gives access to the third terrace, forming the next landing between two small stone pavilions (the north one mostly built with re-used blocks). On the main axis, a 75 m long ramp rises gradually by 15m, slightly elevated above the open space on both sides that follow the natural slope.

The fourth terrace, approximately 20 m wide, is retained by a higher wall. The original stairway to it, composed of 3 flights between lateral stone banks, is now encased by a later one made of re-used stones. There are 6 small brick towers, three on each side of the axial path. Those towers are aligned on a common, north-south axis. A linga was placed in each tower. The style of linga, together stylistic aspects of the towers, indicates that the towers were built around the 11th century AD.

It is thought that the uppermost terrace contains the earliest structure on the site and succeeds an earlier shrine of the 7th century AD. Recent studies of the brick part of the present shrine indicate that it is probably dated from the 10th – 11th century AD. In reality, the shrine was built over two periods, with the brick rectangular tower at the back being the earliest. It is now fronted by a later (11th century AD) antechamber or mandapa. The quality of the carving of this building is very fine. The style of architecture shows that it may be classified the Baphon Style, which is typically 11th century.

The whole complex was developed over a long period. The earliest remains found are of the seventh century AD, as noted above, but much of what can now be seen is much later. There was major rebuilding effort in the eleventh/twelfth centuries and the site was maintained by the rulers of Angkor down to the fourteenth century. It was converted from Hinduism to Buddhism in the thirteenth century AD and retains a local religious function down to the present day.

ARCHITECTURAL SURVEYS - NANDIN HALL