Wat Phu up on the hill

The temple site of Wat Phu Champasak dates back to the Chenla Period (6th to 8th centuries) and was later part of the Khmer Angkor Empire (9th to 13th centuries). Although the surviving structures are not as grand as those near Siem Reap, Cambodia, the surrounding countryside makes a visit to Wat Phu well worth a stop for serious temple buffs and casual travelers alike. Situated at the base of Phu Pasak (Pasak Mountain), Wat Phu ascends in three levels up the side of the mountain to the main temple sanctuary commanding breathtaking views of the countryside. Historians believe that this site was chosen by the Khmers because of a natural spring that flows from near the top of the mountain and also because the peak of Phu Pasak resembles a Shiva phallus.