Laos

Formerly called “The Land of a Million Elephants,” Laos was unified in 1353 by King Fa Ngum. Although the early Lao were animists, the area has been dominated by Theravada Buddhism introduced in the 8th century with, as elsewhere in Southeast Asia, the Indian Ramayana a central part of its cultural heritage with temples depicting the story as examples of the struggle between good and evil. The samabhanga mudra of the Buddha calling for rain is depicted in Laos more than in any other country.