
Luang Prabang © Judith Duk
Encircled by mountains and charmingly situated at the meeting of
the Mekong and Khan Rivers, Luang Prabang, the 'Jewel of the
Mekong', conveys an atmosphere of remote serenity and informal
splendour.
The heart of a thriving kingdom for more than a thousand years,
today it is a sleepy mixture of ancient temples, cobbled lanes,
interesting backstreets, French-Indochinese architecture and
ochre-coloured colonial buildings. Trees line the streets above the
banks of the river where children swim and play, while farmers
carefully tend to their tiny, irregular riverside plots of
agricultural land. In the mists of dawn, throngs of barefoot
orange-robed monks silently make their way from the monasteries to
the streets, where locals wait to gain spiritual merit by filling
their wooden alms bowls with rice, before disappearing once again
into their places of refuge and meditation. Unhurried people drift
past stalls of spicy papaya salad, noodles, omelettes and fruit
drinks. This is the real Laos, a town with a distinctly
village-like feel, but endowed with a historical legacy so rich
that it has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Tourists
to Laos simply shouldn't miss this unique and fascinating city.
The main attractions in Luang Prabang are its historic temple
complexes, with about half of the original
wats, or
temples, still standing. The most magnificent is Wat Xieng Thong
(Golden City Temple). Nearby is the Royal Palace with its
golden-spired
stupa, now a museum, and Wat Wisunalat, the
oldest continually-operating temple in the town. Across the river
is Mount Phu Si with several temples on its slopes and a monastery
on top, a popular spot for its dazzling sunset views of the gilded
spires in the town below.
A popular excursion from Luang Prabang is a scenic boat trip
past waterfront villages to the nearby Pak Ou caves, filled with
images of the Buddha. Also worth visiting is the picturesque Kuang
Si Falls, a beautiful multi-tiered waterfall tumbling over
limestone formations with clear turquoise pools below.