If you are looking for more practical information such as the entrance fee of the park, transportation, location, etc. about the park, then just scroll down the article and find the basic information about the park at the end of the article, but if you are more keen on learning about my experience and impression of the park, then just keep reading. So, before I would visit to Vientiane I did what all travellers probably do: I opened the Google and search about the place I’m going to explore. Believe in me or not but among tons of activities and sightseeing in Laos, Buddha Park was on the first place in my to do list. I could feel even without being there that this park is not just a sightseeing, it is either just a park or just a picturesque place. Buddha Park is the place where you can learn and explore more about Buddhism and Hinduism. The way the sculptures, representing those two religions, stand in the park peacefully, fulfilling each other just teaches us that each and every religion, society can do the same. Many other demons and mythological creatures give even more mysterious look to the park. My recommendation for the visitors is:
- Do not look for many English signs in the park. Believe in me you do not need any language to explore the park rather than the language of history/religious knowledge.
- Walk through the entire park at least two times. It is huge and each and every sculpture there needs to be observed for a while. If you want to get the meaning of the park, then don’t just take photos and pass by the sculpture. Each of them has something to tell you. Stop in front of the sculptures and try to see, think and understand the history.
- Make sure you do not miss one of the main sculptures in the park and that is of course the Giant Pumpkin. It has three different floors. Each of them represents Hell, Earth and Heaven. If you are brave enough you may stop in the Hell floor a bit longer, because it offers a lot, but if you are not sure you can handle, then go to the Earth and Heaven floors and see how amazing they are represented. Go to the top of the pumpkin where you will get the whole view of the park.
- If you follow my first recommendation and walk through the park properly, then I am sure you will need some food. At the end of the park there is a Lao style small restaurant. Find Lao food and drinks there and make sure you are not ordering spicy food if you are not a big fun of chili.
If you kept reading the whole article and it made you to visit to this amazing park, then here is another information you probably need. The Buddha Park is also known as Xieng Khuan. It is situated about 25 km from South East of Vientiane. You can reach there by public bus number 14 from Khua Din bus station or hire a tuk tuk which may cost around 150.000 kip. Taking a public bus is cheaper, only 6000 kip and the journey takes about 40 minutes. There is only 5000-kip entrance fee.
Keep up the great work!
