The world’s most mysterious park – Thailand’s “Lhasa Ghost Cave” gathers 200 bizarre statues

Reported by Chen Zi-Yin / Thailand

You may have visited parks of all sizes around the world, but have you been toSala Keoku Park? Known as the “most unique park in the world” and the “most mysteriously charming attraction,” this place is home to over 200 cement-carved Buddha statues that look spectacular and magnificent from afar, and even more astonishing up close for their exquisite craftsmanship.


▲ The unique Sala Keoku, also known as the Buddha Park, features over 200 stunningly crafted statues. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)

Locally known as the “Buddha Park” in Nong Khai city, Sala Keoku has also been described by Lonely Planet as the most mysteriously charming attraction. The 200 Buddha statues draw inspiration from stories in Buddhism, Hinduism, and Islam. As soon as you enter the park, an eerie atmosphere envelops you—but upon closer inspection, each statue evokes admiration. Local guides say the Buddha Park was built in 1978 by a Laotian man named Luang Pu Boun Leua Surirat, who fled to the Thai border to escape the communist government. Being a religious enthusiast, he wanted to become a monk but couldn’t fulfill that dream, so he fully expressed his religious beliefs through his carvings.

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“Giant statues lying on the ground with bulging eyes and double chins, stout and plump figures, Buddhas with four faces…” The sights in the Buddha Park are so outlandish that they defy description. One of the most special statues features seven fanged, tongue-lolling pythons, with their vivid scales, fangs, and tongues rendered in striking detail. Local guides say: “This story tells that when the Buddha was practicing Buddhism, these snakes protected him by transforming into seven pythons.”


 
▲ Statues of Buddhas, humans, animals, and all kinds of bizarre creations are derived from Buddhist, Hindu, or Islamic stories. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)

  ▲ The fierce-looking seven-headed snake was actually protecting the meditating Buddha. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)

There is also a stout statue, about which the guide explains: “Originally handsome, a young arhat once thought while seeing the Buddha bathe: if I were a woman, I would definitely fall in love with him. But the moment he had that thought, he turned into a woman. Unable to face going home, he fled far away and later transformed into a fat man to atone for his sin.” The story is meant to remind people to maintain righteous thoughts—bad ideas could turn you into someone like that.

Mr. Luang Pu created these massive sculptures not only based on religious historical texts but entirely through his imagination and communication with artisans. Perhaps this is what makes the Buddha Park so famous. He passed away in 1996, and the park was abandoned for some time until the Nong Khai provincial government renovated and reopened it, once again attracting both domestic and international visitors.


▲ This Buddha Park is called the world’s most mysterious park due to its unique statues. (Photo / Reporter Chen Zi-Yin)