Xieng Khuan, the Buddha Park (photo)

The Xieng Khuan "Buddha Park", a sculpture park showing scenes and deities from the Hindu-Buddha pantheon. It was created in 1958 under the direction of Luang Pou Bounleua Soulilat. It is located 25km southeast from Vientiane, Laos in a meadow by the Mekong River. Although it is not a temple (Wat), the park may be referred to as Wat Xieng Khuan, since it contains numerous religious images. The name Xieng Khuan means Spirit City. The park contains over 200 Hindu and Buddhist statues. The socialist government operates Buddha Park as a tourist attraction and public park. The inside of this particular sculpture holds the representations of the "Three planes of existence" - heaven, hell and earth.