Fading
French colonial architecture and ancient temple
ruins make Champasack a place to see evidence of
the rich cultural heritage of Laos. Rare
freshwater dolphins and powerful waterfalls
feature among the highlights to be seen in the
province’s nature. Its geographical condition
creates one of the most beautiful tourist sites
in Laos
Champasack
has a population of about 600,000 including
Lowland Lao, Highland Lao, Khmers and many
unique ethnic minority groups. The province is
also famous for the production of Lao coffee,
tea, rattan, and other agricultural produces
The
distance from Vientiane to Pakse, the provincial
capital of Champasackis 610 kilometers by Route
13 (south) via the provinces of Borikhamxay,
Khammouane, Savannakhet and saravane
Pakse
Located
at the confluence of the Xedone and the Mekong
Rivers, Pakse links trade and travel between
Thailand to Cambodia and Vietnam. Founded as an
administrative outpost by the French in 1905,
the town retains much of its colonial legacy and
architecture. The Champasack Historical Heritage
Museum offers a good introduction to Lao history,
culture and art
Champasack
A small
town located on the Right Bank of the Mekong
River shares a common border with Thailand. It
formed one of the three principalities of the
Lane Xang Empire in 1349 and was under the
region of King Fa Ngum. Visitors to the famous
Wat Amath can observe treasures dating back to
stone age
Wat Phou Champasack (The
second World Heritage Site in Laos)
Certainly
the highlight of any visit to Champasack
Province is the ancient Khmer Temple of Wat
Phou. Situated on the Phou Kao (mountains) slope
6 kilometers away from Champasack District and
about 45 kilometers from south of Pakse along
the Mekong River. It is also important as an
historic and cultural site and was acknowledged
by UNESCO (United Nations Educational Scientific
and Cultural Organization) as a World Heritage
Site on December 14, 2001 (the second World
Heritage site in Laos)
Wat
Phou, a complex of temple buildings constructed
in Khmer style overlooking the Mekong is both
impressive and inspiring. It is recognized as
one of the most important Hindu sanctuaries of
Cambodia’s Khmer Empire, which was in place
between the 9th to 13th
Centuries and is the largest example of Khmer
Architecture in southern Laos. On the same site,
ruins dating from pre-Angor times have also been
identified
On the
moonmoon of the third lunar month, usually
during February and before celebrations at Angor,
Champasack celebrates the traditional Wat Phou
Festival at the ruins. Festivities include
elephant racing, cock fighting and performances
of traditional Lao music and dancing
Si Phan
Don (Four Thousand Islands)
The
breathtaking Si Phan Don or Four Thousand
Islands are located in a section of the Mekong
River just north of the border with Cambodia.
Don Khong is the largest island and boasts a
number of small villages, temples and caves. A
French-built Bridge remaining from a now defunct
railway connects the two smaller islands of Don
Deth and Don Khon
Pakha, freshwater dolphins of the Mekong
The
center for protection and conservation of
freshwater Dolphins is located on the border of
Laos-Cambodia. The freshwater dolphins are
called “Pakha” in Lao, and inhabit only this
part of the Mekong River. Tourists can observe
the endangered freshwater dolphins by chartering
boats from either Ban Khon or Ban Veunkham (located
at the southern tip of the islands)
Liphi Waterfall
Located
on Don Khon, west of Ban Khon Village, Liphi
Waterfall is another amazing natural site to
visit in Champasack Province. A calmer section
of the river below the falls forms a natural
habitat for the endangered fresh water dolphins
Khon Phapheng Waterfall
East of
Don Khon on the Mekong River is the jewel of
Champasack Province. Further downstream, the
Mekong cascades across a wide mouth of rock
which slopes in curvilinear pattern is sometimes
tinted by rainbow. It’s the Lao Niagara, the
widest waterfall of Asia, more than 20
kilometers width. A place where the Mekong River
takes a drop before continuing its course into
the South China Sea via Cambodia and Vietnam.
It’s also renowned as a fish basin. These
spectacular waterfalls render this section of
the Mekong River unavailable
Tad Fane Waterfall
This
natural tourism site is located within the Dong
Hua Sao, a National Biodiversity Conservation
Area at Ban Lak 38 along Route 16 from Pakse
toward Pakxong District. The Champi and Prakkoot
streams, which originate in the Boloven Plateau
at some 1,000 meters abovesea level, come
together to create the Tad Fane Waterfall. The
real beauty of this waterfall stems from the two
branches of the stream dividing town its steep
cliffs. An endless flow of water is created and
if windy, the mist sprays and rainbows are
spectacular
The
waterfall set among the blue skies and evergreen
forest, creates one of most hypnotizing views.
The endless cool breeze helps capture a full
taste of nature. It is a deal spot for tourists
to relax and enjoy nature. Although it is not
possible to reach the waterfall to swim, the
view is an unforgettable experience
Wat Phou Asa
Wat
Phou Asa is an ancient Hindu-Khmer pagoda. It
was built on flat rock on Phou Kao Klat Ngong
Mount in Pathoumphone District. In recent times
it has become a well-known National Heritage and
Amazing Site. To visit this pagoda, travel along
Route 13 (south) from Pakse. Once arriving at Km
38, turn left to Route 18B and travel about 8
kilometers to Ban Klat Ngong Village. It is then
a further 2 kilometers walk to the pagoda
Historically,
it was built by the Khmers with worshipping
links to Wat Phou Champasack. Despite the pagoda
being in a damaged stage, it is still an
important archeological site where visitors are
welcome. Archeologists have surveyed the site
and are preparing for restoration. It is hoped
that Wat Phou Asa will be preserved shortly so
that remains part of Lao Cultural Heritage
forever
Tormor Rocky Channel
Tormor
Rocky Channel was listed as the 15th
National Heritage Site in Laos receiving
approval via Prime Minister’s Degree 174/PMO at
the same time as Wat Phou Champasack. The Tormor
Rocky Channel archeological site is located
about 11 kilometers southeast from Wat Phou
Champasack on the left bank of the Mekong River
The
Tormor Rocky House, as is known by the locals,
was originally built in the 19th
Century with bricks and carved stone during the
7th and 8th Centuries.
These were later destroyed with the Gopuya
artwork now on display built with layered rocks
in the 11th and 12th
Centuries
Columns
of sanstone rock stand along both sides of a
walkway. Although in a ruined state, a large
chamber with front and rear doors and windows on
two sides can be observed on the site. According
to inscriptions, historians have concluded that
the channel is a close relation to Wat Phou
Champasack
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