The central sanctuary

The eastern entrance to the central sanctuary of Wat Phu

The central sanctuary of Wat Phu opens to the east and sits on the upper terrace, some thirty metres above the lower levels. It was built in the 11th century, has three doors and a back part in brick, called the cella which originally sheltered the temple's linga. The corners and walls of the central porch carry beautifully carved devatas and dvarapalas as well as some gorgeous lintels. The centre of the sanctuary is now occupied by a group of modern Buddha images. The cella was permanently dowsed with water from the sacred spring by a series of waterducts (now, long gone) that fed into the brick building, one of the unique traits of Wat Phu. It is flanked on the southern side by a ruined library.

Looking at the central sanctuary from the back with the brick cella overgrown with foliage

The northern wall of the central sanctuary

The 11th century balustered (barred) windows of Wat Phu

These windows were in fact false, backed by laterite blocks

A modern Buddha image on the northern side of the sanctuary

This half pediment above the northern door shows a scene of monkeys fighting, most likely Valin and Sugriva