Your base for this tourist attraction is the Unesco World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Laos. For tourist information about Luang Prabang, go to Luang Prabang Travel Guide. To prepare for a trip to Laos, read also the Laos Travel Guide. Looking for budget accommodation there? Use AsiaExplorers Budget Accommodation Guide, the no-frills website to cover your budget accommodation needs.
Wat Pa Khe Travel Information
Wat Pa Khe, which means the Monastery of the Forest of Khe Trees is a small Laotian temple built during the reign of King Chantarath (1851-72). It is said that the monastery was built by the king in honour of a mission from Luang Prabang to Kunming, China, by a group of envoys. I visited it when I explored the sights in Luang Prabang to document them for AsiaExplorers.
Wat Pa Khe is located at the foot of Mount Phousi. There are steps leading from Wat Pa Khe up the hill. The sim of Wat Pa Khe has a three-tier roof. The front side has four hexagonal columns which are today stencilled and inlaid with mosaics.
From Wat Pa Khe, a long flight of stairs flanked on both sides with undulating naga balustrades leads up Mount Phousi towards Wat Thummo Thayaram, the shrine with a massive footprint of the Buddha. From here, one can get fantastic view of the surrounding region.
If you're going to Luang Prabang, you'd be glad to know that the town is quite small. You can go to most places on foot if you want to. Otherwise, you can also catch a tuk tuk to take you around. As for accommodation, they range from very simple, basic beds to boutique hotels. You can visit the Luang Prabang Hotels guide for a list of budget accommodation.
Eave brackets carved in the form of nagas on Wat Pa Khe.
Wat Thummo Thayaram, shrine to the Buddha's footprint, is approached from Wat Pa Khe through a steep flight of stairs up Mount Phousi.
Shall shrine houses perch on ledges overlooking the Nam Khan river.
The massive Buddha's footprint.
Entrance to the shrine of the Buddha's footprint.
5 Days 4 Nights Romantic Luang Prabang Tour
Explore Luang Prabang, Pak Ou, Kuang Si Waterfalls on this 5 day 4 nights tour, provided by Exotissimo Travel in conjunction with AsiaExplorers. Details here. (This tour is conducted only until September 2012).
