That Ing Hang

That Ing Hang is a tapering stupa of brick and stucco standing about nine metres high inside a walled compound, raised in its present form in the sixteenth century over a much older foundation. It is the principal pilgrimage site of the south, and the annual festival in the third lunar month draws people from across the region and from Thailand. The inner enclosure around the base is restricted to men by long-standing custom, which is stated at the gate and is worth knowing before you arrive.

What you actually see

• The stupa - a tapering brick and stucco tower with tiered mouldings and a gilded top.
• The enclosure wall - a low walled square around the base, with the inner court restricted to men.
• The stucco work - naga and floral relief on the lower stages, weathered but legible.
• The compound - shaded grounds with a monastery, ordination hall and a covered rest pavilion.

When to go

November to February is the cool dry season. The That Ing Hang festival falls in the third lunar month, usually February, and turns the compound into a fair with several days of crowds. Mornings are quiet and much cooler.

Honest expectations

The restriction on the inner enclosure is a real custom rather than a formality, and staff will stop you. The stupa is smaller than photographs suggest. Outside festival days there is little else on the site and the visit is short.

Nearby

Savannakhet's old quarter is twenty minutes southwest, and the Mekong crossing to Thailand is in the town.