Name: Nong Khai
Rating: 4.5

Sala Keaw Khu, Nong Khai Overview

The Sala Kaew Khu is a sculpture park. Built by a mystic named Luang Pu Boun Leua Sourirat in 1978 and over a period of 20 years, the Sala Kaew Khu is an interesting and impressive creation. Quite simply put the park is full of statues related to Buddhism and Hinduism. Yet, it is fantastic, serene, and the sheer magnitude and genius of the park can amaze one easily.

Luang Pu began building the structures on the Lao side of the River Mekong. But after the communist took over Laos, he travelled across to Nong Khai. Some statues rise as high as 25m, whereas some depict the tales of values. Luang Pu’s mummified body remains within the park today. The park is a must-visit destination for history and architecture buffs.

Sculptures at Sala Kaew Khu

There are some massive structures at the Sala Kaew Khu. The most photographed and iconic statue is of the Buddha sitting under the protection of the huge seven-headed snake or ‘Naga’. The sculpture truly embodies the style, skill and vision of Luang Pu.

Another landmark sculpture is The Wheel of Life which is a circular group of sculptures that represent the cycle of birth and death. It begins with a young man stepping inside the fence to emerge as a Buddha statue on the other end.

There are other sculptures of the Buddha posing, as well as, statues of Shiva and Vishnu. Some of the sculptures also include that of the elephant walking through dogs, the different dog statues in various moods, the many human-animal hybrid statues etc.

The pavilion of the park is a three-storey building with domes that reminds one of a mosque. The third floor of the building has the mummified body of Luang Pu and many other artefacts.