Laos Sights
VientianeVientiane - the capital and largest city of Laos on the Mekong River. In Laotian city name sounds Wieng Chan, in the translation of "city of sandalwood".
Thatluang Stupa (Pha That Luang) - the main attraction of the city, a symbol of national unity. Every year in early November, during a religious holiday, there is going to a great number of believers from various Buddhist countries. The monument was erected in the 16 century, and this type of monument acquired in the early 20 century by the French restorers. Here is the official residence of the Lao Buddhist patriarch. Travel is only available to the courtyard stupa.
Wat Si Muang (Wat Si Muang) (1563 g) - one of the most revered monasteries in the city, where people worship Buddha not so much - the spirits of the city, living in the same column standing here, painted in yellow. The column was found on the site of one of the deserted cities of ancient Khmer and moved here in 16 century, however, the temple was reconstructed several times. According to legend, when the place was chosen for the temple, and under its foundation pit was dug, all were waiting for a volunteer willing to sacrifice themselves to the Gods. In the end, obeying the call of the Gods, in the pit threw a pregnant woman.
Wat Si Saket (Wat Si Saket) is famous for the thousands of ceramic and silver Buddha figurines of all types and sizes, standing in niches along the perimeter of the inner wall surrounding the monastery. The temple was built in 1818 and became the only building surviving in Vientiane during the attack Siamese in 1828. In the main building is interesting to look at the ceiling, paintings which are an obvious influence of European painting. In the church from 8 to 11 and from 14 to 16.30. a museum (except Monday).
National Historical Museum (Lao National History Museum) is located in a former French governor's residence, next to the Hotel Lao Plaza. The museum contains archaeological finds, photos, documents, samples of Laotian folk art and craft products.
Patusay (Patuxai) - a triumphal arch in the center of Vientiane, decorated with national flags and banners of the Communist Party with the hammer and sickle. Mixing elements of European and Oriental coloring makes this monument of architecture rather unusual appearance. The monument was installed in 1968 in memory of soldiers who died in the war for independence from France in Laos. The staircase you can climb the observation tower (from 8:00 - 17:00), overlooking the center of the capital.
Black Stupa (That Dam, Black Stupa) - the oldest surviving structures of Vientiane, referring, according to researchers, to 15 century. According to legend, in this mortar lives Semiglav sleeping dragon, which first awakened in 1828 during the war with the Siamese and the protection of local residents.
Temple of the Emerald Buddha (Haw Pha Kaew). It is here for two centuries kept the famous all over the Indochina Emerald Buddha, now located in the eponymous temple in Bangkok. Some time later, the temple was converted into a museum, where things are now exposed the royal family, several valuable pieces of the Buddha, and behind the temple you can see one of the giant stone vessels brought from Ponesavana. Hours: 8 to 11 and from 14 to 16.30 (except Monday).
Savannakhet
City Savannakhet, often called by local residents simply Savan or south of Luang Prabang, is the most visited provincial town of southern Laos. This is not surprising - located on the ancient trade routes, it has always been a major trading center linking the coast of the South China Sea and the mountainous areas of Cambodia and Laos. Its architecture is quite unusual - the central part of the city built up an impressive building in the French colonial style, with wide boulevards, according to local standards, and many green areas. And the outskirts of the city, on the contrary, constitute a maze of narrow streets and colorful shopping areas with a strong Vietnamese flair. Ethnic Vietnamese constitute almost 60% of the population of Savannakhet, and lived here for several generations. Hence, the colorful mixture of Vietnamese and Lao traditions, which give the city a special charm. It is worth to view Catholic Cathedral of St. Theresa (XVIII century). Inghang great Stupa and the temple (16 kms from the city).
To the east of Savannakhet runs the famous "Next Ho Chi Minh" - parallel to the border with Vietnam, an extensive system of roads, trails and strong points, formed during the struggle against colonialism and the Vietnam War. Impacts United States Air Force, literally vyvalivshis on this earth in the period from 1965 to 1969 more than 1,1 million tons of explosives and herbicides, causing heavy damage to nature and the population of the province. However, these lands have become a real mecca for lovers of military history - here you can see hundreds of bunkers, tunnels and other underground constructions North Vietnamese Army, as well as a great number of remains by helicopter gunships, fighter jets, bombers, tanks and other military equipment.
LuangPrabang
The ancient capital of Laos, a city with 32 monasteries, included in UNESCO World Heritage List. The population of 16 thousand people. with the neighborhood. Located in the Mekong basin, surrounded by mountains. The climate is more moderate than the south, and more cloudy. The rainy season - from July to October. In the 13 century, the city Sava, as then called Luang Prabang, was first mentioned as part of the Thai-Laotian kingdom of Lanna. In 1353, King Fa Nguma, killing his grandfather, founded the first kingdom Laotians - Lansang, existed until 1694. After its collapse Luang Prabang in the power of local potentates slowly falls asleep. Spit it now.
Wat Seng Thong (Wat Xieng Thong) - the most beautiful and famous monastery of the city, built in 1560 in a classic north-Lao style - low roof and an abundance of gold murals. The temple consists of several main buildings: the "characters", where the monks pray for the main statue of the Buddha, "ho tay" - a library of manuscripts, "ho kong" - a tower with a gong (bell tower), "Kuti" - monastery monks, and some "great Stupa - stupas, where the buried saints or hermits. All these buildings worth seeing in Thong Seng. Today the monastery is maintained as a museum.
Watermelon Pagoda (That Pathum, Wat Wisunalat) complex of buildings of the monastery Wat Visunalat located near the center of the city and was founded in 1513 during the reign of Chao Visunalata. In building the monastery, a special interest here is the Watermelon Pagoda ", so named because of its curious semicircular shape. In 1887, roving bands of the Himalayas took and plundered the city, sparing only a few churches - among them, and this was the pagoda. In 1887 the temple was set on fire, and in 1896-1898 gg. it was reconstructed. Hours: 8:00 - 17:00
Hill Phusi (Phu Si) in the heart of the city, towering above the Mekong and Khan rivers, is a fairly high hill Phusi. On it are several large and small churches, in which live hundreds of monks. From the top of a hill and offers a great panoramic view of the city and its surroundings. Of particular interest is the gilded statue of a fat Buddha in a rocky alcove on a slope, an old Soviet air defense installation just to the left; Thatomsi stupa (That Chomsi); and Phabatnya Wat (Wat Pha Bat Neua), which houses the three-meter footprint of Buddha. From the hill's great to see off the sunset.
Wat Mai (Wat Mai Suwannabhumaham) 1797 - one of those temples, which in 1887 spared the pirates who seized and looted the city. Apparently, it seemed to them too beautiful. One of the main entrance to the temple is surprising wealth of gilded paintings, representing the patterns of people's life and scenes from the local version of the epic "Ramayana". Admission is free.
Wat Saen (Wat Saen). As the name implies, this monastery was founded on a kind of private donation of $ 100 thousand bale. Rather patron was one of Thai merchants - in any case, the main building of the monastery was built in Thai style, unusual in Luang Prabang. Here in the middle of 20 century. lived one of the most holy monks promoted in the history of Laos, here he died, thus ensuring his monastery stable income for several generations. By Wat Saen adjoins another monastery, Wat Nong Sikhunmeuang, its interesting color range of red colors.
Hmongsky market (H'mong market) - colorful place, the best in the city to buy ethnic souvenirs production mountain tribes. Any thing is worth no more than $ 2 a striking abundance patterns on the fabric is clearly mythological origin, as well as wooden figures of demons, with red faces, in many sold here. But nobody will be able to explain to you what is the meaning of the picture. Going to the market - is a separate tour: here is interesting to look at people in national costumes, listening to unusual music in an incomprehensible language ...
Quang Cu (Kuang Si) - a large beautiful waterfall, located 30 km south of the city. The waterfall is best to watch in the winter, after the rainy season, not during drought. On the path around the falls you can climb the hill through the mysterious jungles. Near the waterfall locals sell their crafts from bamboo. A trip to a waterfall in the back of "fat-fat" will cost no more than $ 5 per person, even cheaper - to rent a bike.
Caves Park - U (Pak Ou Caves). In 25 km to the north, upstream of the Mekong, on the other side there are two sacred karst caves in which local residents, before the advent of Buddhism in these regions, worshiped the spirits. In the caves you can see how the darkness go unknown corridors, and on all speakers stones are countless figurines of the Buddha of all types and sizes. Near the crossing to the caves in the village of Ban Pak Y ( "The mouth of the river"), you can have a meal in the cafe and walk through the local market. In addition, on the way to the caves ask the driver drop off you in the village where the local rice wine are produced.
Valley Jha
Jah Valley - the main attraction of the North-Eastern part of the country. On the territory of the plains are concentrated several hundred stone urns of unknown origin and destination, collected in five groups. These vast buildings, the largest of which weighs 10.6 tons, cut about two thousand years ago from stone, which, incidentally, in the neighborhood does not occur. Recent excavations have shown the presence in the vast plains of the underground tombs. And the rest of the many bombings of this strategically important area of funnel attached to the Dja landscape quite unearthly appearance.
Champasak
Champasak - the former royal capital Chenla and one of the oldest cities in the country. Around the town is included in the list of UNESCO World Heritage complex of ancient ruins of Wat Phou (VI-XII vv.), A network of creeks and channels that form a labyrinth of 4 036 islands of Si Phan Don (four thousand islands "), among which the most interesting islands Don Khon and Don Dhet and Don Khon, which is literally teeming with tourists from neighboring countries. Also in the area of Si Phan Don is one of the main natural attractions of the region - a large population of the rare river dolphins iravadiyskih.
Plateau Bolaven
In the east of the region is fertile highlands plateau Bolaven separates the valley of the Mekong from the mountain ranges of Annam, which form the border of Laos with Vietnam. Dominant among the provinces, Champasak, Salavang, Sekong and Attapu, hilly plateau has an average elevation of about 600 m. Numerous wild rivers flowing down from the plateau in all directions, sinking under the canopy of lush forests, and forming more than one hundred spectacular waterfalls, some of which have a height of more than 100 m. Most of the plateau region are virtually unexplored by tourists from Europe, but is well known to travelers from countries of South-East Asia. It is home to many distinct tribes, are cultivated here is one of the best coffee in the world, here is an ancient center of Mon-Khmer culture, whose monuments still await their investigators.