Champasak province lies on southwestern Laos and on the west bank of the Mekong river. The town is in an agricultural region of rolling plains and alluvial lowlands. The capital of Champasak is Pakse. The province used to play an important part in the history of Laos.
Pakse is the location of Vat Phou – Khmer ruins and was the seat of the Kingdom of Champasak, an independent Lao state. Today the town is very small, consisting mostly of guesthouses along the riverbank, catering to tourists visiting the Vat Phou temple ruins.
Champasak is on the shore opposite the highway, accessible by boat from the Ban Muang docks. While Pakse nearly lies along a single road that parallels the Mekong river. Outside the town of Champasak, traveler will come to the countryside where can hardly believed to host royalty. However, there are a lot of great reminders in this region to explore.
Despite of the sunlight, just relax for a few days in the ancient temples located in Southern Laos of Champasak.
Vat Phou temple offers travelers impressive views and you just can find out by real eyes. It is different from Angkor temple and ones can not find the same things in ancient ruins in Cambodia.
This temple is the place served local spiritual life (dedicated to Shiva) and displays ancient culture as early as 2,000 years ago. While the water from the spring which emerges directly behind the temple was considered sacred. Dated back to thousands years ago, Vat Phou was a part of the Khmer empire, in the reign of Yashovarman I in the 10th century. To the structure of Linga-shaped protuberance on its summit and the value of culture, Vat Phou was designated a World Heritage Site in 2001.
Today, Vat Phou invites travelers to be immersed in the atmosphere of local religion in thousand years ago. And sometimes ones will catch into eyes image of monks in saffron to the temple.
Besides, there are a lot to visit like Wat Nyutthitham temple which is near Vat Phou and another is from Khmer temple and now it is in ruins at Um Muang, downstream to the opposite bank by hiring a boat from Champasak. Moreover, sitting on the boat and view the sight on Mekong river will be a great time.
In Champasak, travelers can explore by motobike running on the roads while others like to take for a walk.
