The sacred spring

The location of the sacred spring of Wat Phu, to the left of the overhanging rock formation

Wat Phu is unique in many aspects and in particular the presence of a natural and sacred spring, located above the main sanctuary and inside a natural rock formation. A small sandstone and brick temple, from the 11th century, was wedged under the rock though only ruins remain today, with its doorway lintel sat on the floor a few feet away. The spring water was funnelled into a series of basins and conveyed to the sanctuary by a series of waterducts, though only wooden copies remain in situ today. One of the original sandstone somasutras can be seen in the small museum next to the temple entrance with its carved makara head. Other small statues sit under the overhanging rock. Our driver made a bee-line for the spring water and collected it into two water bottles to take home with him, saying the holy water was a powerful and potent good luck charm and would guarantee him more children.

The doorway of the ruined chapel leads to the location of the natural holy spring

Never far from our view, Vishvakarma atop a kala is the focus of the chapel's lintel

A wooden copy of a somasutra conveys the spring water into a stone basin

A closer look at one of the wooden somasutras in situ at Wat Phu

Pedestals and small statues sit under the overhanging rock nearby