#730 Xieng Khuan Buddha Park, Vientiane, Laos

This quirky Buddha Park on the outskirts of Vientiane in Laos (25km southeast)

is a bizarre collection of 200 Buddhist and Hindu statues created out of concrete. The sculptures are the work of the unconventional sculptor Luang Phu (Venerable Grandfather) Boon Lua (Bunleua) Sulilat whose name for the park translates to 'Spirit City'. The park was begun in 1958, and attempted to integrate Hinduism and Buddhism due to the artist being influenced by a Hindu rishi in Vietnam.

Sculptures include depictions of humans, gods, animals, demons, Buddha, Shiva, Vishnu and Arjuna. The 120m long reclining Buddha is also significant.

After the 1975 revolution, Boon Lua fled to Thailand where he built another sculpture park (Sala Keoku) just miles from this one in Nong Khai, on the other side of the Mekong River.

The very large giant pumpkin-like castle is a main feature of the park, with fables and stories of  the underworld carved into the rooms leading up to a platform on the roof with impressive views over the park with the Mekong River behind. Enter through a 'hell mouth' at the bottom.

Source: Lonely Planet Southeast Asia on a Shoestring, 12th Edition, 2004 p348
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddha_Park

#751 Padmanabhapuram Palace, (Kerala), Tamil Nadu, India

Far from the hippie beaches of Kovalam and actually technically into Tamil Nadu, but still part of Kerala lies the unpronounceable (like many Kerala names) Padmanabhapuram Palace.

Named as the finest surviving example of Keralan architecture due to its history as the seat of the rulers of the princely state of Travancore, it is a magnificent structure of carved teak and granite partially dating from 1550. Rosewood ceilings in floral designs, windows with jewel-colored mica, floors polished with a shell, coconut, egg-white, plant-juice compound, intricately Chinese-designed screens and pickle-jars, and beautiful people enjoying the coolness and peace.

Built in spurts with significant construction in 1601 and 1750, it was dedicated to King Marthaanda Varma's family deity Lord Padmanabha, a form of Lord Vishnu,so Padmanabhapuram translates to City of Lord Padmanabha. It lost importance when the capital was moved to Trhiruvananthapuram in 1795. Interesting parts of the palace include the King's Council Chamber (Mantrasala) which has beautiful windows decorated with mica, the Mother's Palace (Thai Kottaram) which is the oldest part of the palace and has an inner courtyard with downward-sloping roofs and the Nataksala performance hall. Most impressive, however is the four storey Upirrika Maliga with the king's bedrooms, the royal treasury, and in-wall storage for weapons as well as a worship chamber.

 

Amazing facts:

• The clock in the clock tower is 300 years old but still keeps time.
• The big hall can accommodate 1000 guests
• The palace has a secret passage through which the king could escape to a safe place not far away
• The Chinese jars (which fill an entire room) are said to be gifts from Chinese merchants that stayed

The courtyards and buildings are all unique in size, shape, purpose and decoration. The palace is beautiful and easy to wander about, with each corner yielding some other special surprise.

 

Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Padmanabhapuram_Palace

Lonely Planet India 11th Edition 2005