Shooting over from Bangkok, Thailand?Cruising up from Phnom Penh, Cambodia? Zipping down from Luang Prabang, Laos? No matter where you are going from, where you are going to, make sure to cool your jets for a few days in Champasak, a town in the southern Laos. You can click: the best Indochina tours
Orientation
Champasak-a destination for relaxation- source: internet
Lying 25 miles downstream from the southern hub of Pakse, on the shore opposite the highway, Champasak can be accessible by boat from the Ban Muang docks. Almost the entire town is laid out along a single road paralleling the Mekong River. In the heart, a traffic circle (with no traffic to speak of) surrounds a decaying stone fountain that hints of the distinctive past of this town.
Faded Grandeur
Champasak’s grandeur- source: internet
In Champasak, travelers can easily find the same go with the river’s flow mentality celebrated by backpackers farther south on the Four Thousand Islands and farther north at Muang Ngoi Neua. But Champasak offers you more than hammock naps and banana milkshakes.
There had been three separate Lao kingdoms before the French consolidated the region and added that pesky “s” to the country’s name. One of them just so happened to be the Champasak’s Kingdom, located in the town that still keeps its name. Some nay find it hard to believe that this lazy village once housed royalty. But there are faded reminders of greatness to explore while it lacks anything approximating Pakse’s Champasak Palace Hotel. Travel in Laos
The colonial buildings, lining the main road, stained by the weight of humidity and time are where some of Champasak’s grandeur remains. When relishing a slow meal of sticky rice, laap and Beer Lao at one of the many delightfully mellow riverside restaurants, you will enjoy the stunning atmosphere conjured by these shadows from the past.
The Main Attraction
Wat Phu – A UNESCO World Heritage Site- source: internet
A UNESCO World Heritage Site is something else unique in southern Laos that Champasak boasts. Straddling the mountains and the Mekong plain 7 miles south and west of town on the main road, the ruins of Wat Phu Champasak is the perfect prelude for what you will see in the Angkor Wat if you are planning a visit there later in your trip. Anyone having already been to the Angkor Complex will definitely appreciate the elevated location of these ruins. Wat Phu affords spectacular views, something cannot be found at Angkor. As early as 2,000 years ago, this temple complex served as the spiritual nexus of an ancient culture.
Few centuries later, Champasak became part of the great Khmer empire, and you can definitely realize the similarities between the carvings and sculptures here and those at Cambodia’s worldwide famous site. Looking closely and you can find out the remnants of the pilgrimage route that once connected the two.
The charming Mekong- source: internet
Today, ascending the stone staircases scented with sweet frangipani blossoms that connect the site’s multiple levels, you can see how Wat Phu invites you to relive the experience of a devotee. Along the way, you will go across statues decorated in fresh flowers and saffron robes, perhaps with a group of monks in attendance. From the top level, you can look back over the entire complex, farther out across the charming plain, and eventually to the Mekong illuminating in the distance.
Each year, during the Bun Wat Phu Champasak, the ruins are overrun with local revelers. Buddhist ceremonies, sporting events and live music abound at this popular festival. Book your Champasak accommodation well in advance if your visit happens to coincide (festival usually falls in February). You are likely to have the place to yourself if going there at other times of the year.
Arriving and Departing
What you need to know before going to Champasak, Laos- source: internet
Situated just off well-traveled Highway 13, Champasak is a breeze to reach. Traveling this road from points north and south, buses will probably drop you at Ban Lak 30, a couple of miles to the east of the Ban Muang docks. You should not have any troubles booking local transport to cover this road. Unless you specify otherwise, you will have your boatman ferry you a mile or so north of the traffic circle of Champasak. It will set you back less than 10,000 kip ($1) for the standard crossing. If coming the other way, your best bet will be to arrange transport through your guesthouse. As always, for the latest updates, don’t forget to check with passing travelers.
Fewer services mean more time to relax and explore. Enjoy it while you can!
See more:
THINGS YOU CAN ONLY EXPERIENCE IN LUANG PRABANG
UNIQUE EXPERIENCE IN VIENTIANE
Asia Travel Lover
