Wat Dane Soung Jungle Temple – Vientiane, Laos - Atlas Obscura
Places near me Random place

Wat Dane Soung Jungle Temple

Vientiane, Laos

An ancient jungle temple carved into a rocky overhang of the Dane Soung Plateau. 

View all photos
Meditation place with gong near the viewpoint herzogb97 (Atlas Obscura User)
Dane Soung Viewpoint herzogb97 (Atlas Obscura User)
16
159
Top Places in Vientiane
Buddha Park
Xieng Khuan (Buddha Park)
Vientiane, Laos
COPE Visitor Centre
Vientiane, Laos
Lao National Museum
Vientiane, Laos
 See All

The Dang Soung Plateau was once a spiritual epicenter in ancient Vientiane-Viengkham as evidenced by the numerious stone shrines scattered throughout. Apparently, today only a solitary monk by the name of Soubane inhabits the area. This plateau is also home to the jungle temple, Wat Dane Soung.

The Wat Dane Soung is believed to have been built in the first millennium by the Mon, and features a number of Dvaravati-style Buddha images carved into the rock. Many of these images have been painted gold.

In 1986 construction of a new temple began, but was never completed due to lack of funds. A few years later, in the early 1990’s, the Lane Xang Hotel built a restaurant on site in hopes of encouraging tourism. As local legend has it, the necessary ceremonies for appeasing the spirits were not performed, resulting in a fire that burned down the new building. The foundation of this building still remains and can be visited today.

Adapted with permission from Exploguide.com dedicated to travelers looking for alternative and off the beaten track travel.

Know Before You Go

From Vientiane, go North on the road N°13 (going to Luang Prabang). Drive 22km (see the milestones) and you will reach the Houakoua village. Pass the bridge and, just after, turn left on a sealed road and pass Ban Naxone village. Drive west to Ban Nagnang. Go through the village till you see the school on you right. Take the dirt track on the right. You will reach a dam and a little lake. You must leave you car at the lake tourist area car park and go further 3km (W) by feet or motorcycle. Use a motorcycle only if the weather is dry and if you are a good driver : the track is very bad. You can drive from Vientiane to Dane Soung temple with a motorcycle. Rent it at PVO car rental (see related article).

disaster areas sacred spaces ruins architectural oddities architecture
Nearby
That Dam (Black Stupa)
15.68 miles
Patuxai
15.83 miles
Wat Si Muang
16.35 miles
Want to see fewer ads? Become a Member.
Near This Place
That Dam (Black Stupa)
Vientiane, Laos

That Dam (Black Stupa)

This mysterious tower is said to enshrine a dormant seven-headed serpent that once protected Vientiane from destruction.
Patuxai
Vientiane, Laos

Patuxai

When the USA donated cement and funds to expand the airport in Laos, the Laotians built a massive monument instead.
Vientiane, Laos

Wat Si Muang

This Khmer temple is named after a young woman who sacrificed herself to protect the city from a disastrous deluge.
Formerly used prosthetic limbs are everywhere in the visitor centre.
Vientiane, Laos

COPE Visitor Centre

In the world's most bombed country relative to its size, this incredible organization helps pick up the pieces.
Related Places
The doorway of the old church of San Isidro.
Oviedo, Spain

Portada de la Antigua Iglesia de San Isidoro (Arch of the Old Church of San Isidoro)

The surviving remnants of a destroyed medieval church now stand in a public park.
Al Bidya Mosque.
Al Bidya, United Arab Emirates

Al Bidya Mosque

The oldest surviving mosque in the UAE has mysterious origins and unusual architecture.
A relief of surgical instruments.
Nagoa Ash Shatb, Egypt

Temple of Kom Ombo

One of its engravings is believed to be among the first representations of medical and surgical instruments.
Unfinished church ruins.
Panenský Týnec, Czechia

The Unfinished Gothic Church of Panenský Týnec

The 14th-century ruins are said to contain healing powers.
In partnership with KAYAK

Plan Your Trip

From Around the Web