Attractions in Laos

The wealth of each nation is not the level of GDP, but primarily its cultural heritage. Laos is a rather poor country, especially compared to its closest neighbor, Thailand. However, with regard to ancient temples and ancient artifacts, everything is in order here. If you are planning a trip to Laos, take note of information on its sights: we offer you their description and photo.

The temples of Laos

In Laos from time immemorial professed Buddhism. This most directly affected the culture of the population and the country's historical heritage. There are a huge number of temples and religious objects, most of which are shrouded in myths and legends. Among this mass is worth highlight:

1. Wat Sisaket. The temple is the oldest in the whole country. Thanks to the elements characteristic of Siamese architecture, at one time he experienced the Siamese-Lao war, without suffering significant damage. It is located in Vientiane , the capital of Laos, and is famous for its huge number (more than 7 thousand) of various Buddha statues located on its territory.
2. Wat Siengthon. The oldest temple complex in Luang Prabang . This is an example of canonical Laotian architecture: the monastery is made in white and gold tones, various ornaments are decorated inside the wall, and a multilevel roof crowns the building. It is also known as the Temple of the Golden City, and its construction dates back to 1560.
3. Wat Phu. These are the ruins of an ancient Khmer temple complex, which is located at the foot of Phu Kao Mountain, in the vicinity of Champasak. Wat Phu is included in the UNESCO World Heritage List since 2001. Its construction dates back to the 6th century, and once it became the center of Theravada Buddhism. The main relic of the complex is the imprint of the Buddha's footprint on one of the stones next to the sanctuary.

In addition to the temples, there are a lot of other religious buildings in Laos, which the tourist will be interested to see. Among them:

1. Buddha Park in Vientiane. This is a relatively small area, in the space of which rises more than 200 statues on religious themes. Central is a huge sculpture in the form of a reclining Buddha, stretched along the entire park.
2. Pha That Luang. In addition to religious meaning, it also carries in itself a symbol of national self-consciousness, because the huge golden stupa Pha That Luang is depicted on the arms of the country. Today it is a whole religious complex, attracting the attention of most tourists.
3. That Dam. This structure is also known as the Black Stupa. Once all the gold from it was thwarted by the conquerors during the war with Siam. Since then, the stupa has become covered with moss and blackened, and local residents connect with it several legends.
4. Paku Caves. This attraction is located 25 km north of Luang Prabang, off the Mekong River . In fact, this is a whole complex of bas-reliefs and sculptures depicting the Buddha in a variety of his incarnations.

Sights of Laos of a non-religious nature

Despite such an abundance of temples and monasteries, in Laos there is something to look at even moving away from the theme of Buddhism. However, the number of such attractions clearly loses the number of objects described in the previous section. So, among the interesting places of Laos is worth mentioning the following:

1. The triumphal arch of Patusay. The monument was erected in 1968 as a tribute to the memory of those who died in the War of Independence of Laos from France. On the roof of the monument there is an observation deck, from which an excellent panorama of the city opens.
2. The Royal Palace of Ho Kham , the former residence of kings in Luang Prabang. In this complex. Here you can see household items and furniture, portraits of the royal couple, a collection of gifts. Part of the museum complex is the temple, which houses the royal throne and a copy of the statue of Buddha Prabang.
3. Valley of pitchers. It is a plain located 15 km from the city ​​of Phonsavan . This landmark is considered one of the unsolved mysteries of antiquity, because throughout its territory are scattered huge stone vessels. In total there are about 300 of them, and the weight of some specimens reaches 6 tons! The oldest of the pitchers is more than 2000 years old.
4. The Ho Chi Minh Trail. This is an open-air museum, the main theme of which is the Vietnam War. At one time there was a military-strategic strategic point, and today its territory is strewn with remnants of ground and air military equipment.

Natural sights of Laos

Laos can boast not only man-made cultural monuments, but also surprise you with its nature. Quietly located in the mountains, this country has provided many surprises for its guests. Among the natural wonders in Laos is worth a look at these:

1. The Mekong River. It is the main pond of Laos and forms the state border with Thailand and Myanmar . Today, rice is growing in its spills, besides, the river has prospects in the field of hydropower.
2. The Bolaven Plateau. It is a mountainous area that separates the Mekong River valley from the Annamite mountain ranges at the border with Vietnam. The plateau is cut by rugged rivers, which create more than a hundred picturesque waterfalls . Among them, the Fang waterfall, representing two violent streams of water, falling from a height of 130 m.
3. Lake Nam Ngum. Located near the city of Pan Keun and is the main source of salt production. In addition, numerous cruises on boats depart from the lake, the purpose of which is an excursion with the nature of Laos.
4. Xi Fang Don. The archipelago, known as the Four Thousand Islands. Near the border with Cambodia, the Mekong splits into several branches, among which a large number of small islets appeared. On the largest even there are settlements. But the main highlight of these places is the picturesque nature.
5. The caves of Laos. In the vicinity of the town of Vang Vieng stretches over 70 caves. However, for travelers only a few are available, and not all of them are properly equipped for tourist visits. Here, among the majestic and massive stalactites and stalagmites, you can find underground temples and various statues.

Do not be mistaken about the fact that the above list restricts the number of significant places in Laos. By no means. In this country there are about 17 different reserves with reservations, among which are popular parks such as Namha , Dong Sieng Thong and Dong Hiss. Among the man-made attractions in Laos, there is what to see on your own even in a short time, for 3 days. Most of the objects of tourist attention are concentrated in large cities akin to Vientiane or Luang Prabang .