The sanctuary of the Wat Phou temple complex in Champasak Province was originally, at its founding, a Hindu sanctuary, centuries later becoming a Buddhist one. The sanctuary is up several flights of stone stairs from the pavilions and the entrance causeway lined with sandstone posts.
History. From the 1st to 9th centuries CE, Champasak province was part of the Funan and then Chenla Kingdoms. Between the 10th and 13th centuries it was part of the Khmer Empire. In 1354, the area came under the control of King Fa Ngum and the Lan Xang Empire.