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20 Vientiane Times
FeatureMonday April 9, 2018
Welcoming Visit Laos Year 2018, Vientiane Times is publishing a series of feature articles and images inviting you to experience the authentic nature, culture, history and hospitality of Laos, Jewel of the Mekong.
The companies advertised on this page are sponsoring the Travel column
LUANG PRABANG VIEW HOTEL, Phou Meo, Lao-Thai Friendship Road, P.O.Box 675, Luang Prabang, Lao PDR.
Tel: +856 71 260 560; Fax: +856 71 260 290; Email: [email protected] www.luangprabangview.com
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LocationNokeokoummane Rd, Ban Mixay, Chanthabouly District,Vientiane, LaosTel:+856 21 254512-5, Mobile:+856 20 5483 0000, 20 5534 0000Email: [email protected] www. soutchaitravel.com
ບລສດ ສດໃຈ ທອງທຽວ ຈຳກດຜດຽວSoutchai travel Sole co.,ltd
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At this time of the year when the weather is fine, plenty of
people arrive at Vat Phou Champassak to explore this extensive temple complex and wander among the ruins.
Their enjoyment of the site will be able to continue long into the future thanks to an international team of experts who are constantly working to restore and preserve the many structures that make up the temple complex.
Last week, I attended the “5th International Coordinat ion Meeting Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champassak Cultural Landscape”, supported by the Embassy of the Republic of India to Laos.
At the same time we toured the site to learn about the history of Vat Phou Champassak and its inscription by the UN Education, Scientific and Cul tural Organisat ion (Unesco) on the list of World Heritage Sites in 2001.
Vat Phou, meaning “temple of the mountain”, is situated in the south of Laos on the banks of the Mekong River, about one hundred kilometres north of the Cambodian border. Vat Phou is dedicated to the Hindu deity Shiva and is one of the most significant architectural sites anywhere in Southeast Asia, on par with Cambodia’s Angkor Wat.
The Lao are especially
Vat Phou conservation experts meet to review progress
Participants gather for the “5th International Coordination Meeting Vat Phou and Associated Ancient Settlements within the Champassak Cultural Landscape” meeting in Champassak province last week.
Visitors explore Vat Phou Champassak to learn about the origins of the site.
The Vat Phou Champassak World Heritage Site.
proud of this site, but its value goes far beyond the modern-day borders of Laos and it truly belongs to the common historic heritage of all people in the region.
Vat Phou was a key location in the emergence of the region’s ancient kingdoms. An important city, one of the capitals of the ancient Khmer Kingdom long before Angkor was founded, flourished on the banks of the Mekong during the 5th century. And yet many vestiges are only visible today by observing certain details which are familiar to archaeologists.
The monumental Vat Phou complex was built mostly on the slopes of a mountain which was considered sacred and dominates the valley. However, the remains of the buildings still visible today mostly date from the 11th and 12th centuries.
Today the temple ruins are carefully preserved and various parts are being restored.
The government and international organisations are closely involved in conse rva t i on e f fo r t s , particularly in cooperation with India and the Republic of Korean.
At last week’s meeting, Laos’ heritage officials and technicians from India, Korea, France and other involved sectors met to discuss ongoing projects to conserve and restore the temple ruins.
The conservation and restoration of Vat Phou Champassak is continuing and will be carried out in the long term.
Under the Vat Phou Champassak Restoration Project, experts are currently restoring the southern and northern palaces with the
support of the Laos-India Cooperation Project. The first phase began in 2015 and teams will continue with the second phase of restoration.
Authorities are also continuing the Lao-Korean cooperation project to preserve and restore the Hong Nang Sida temple which is located about one
kilometre from Vat Phou. They are also working
with a French team of experts to conduct research into various parts of the site.
The authorities are also partnering with Japan, Cambodia and Unesco in Bangkok in the sustainable conservation of Vat Phou.
Vat Phou is one of Laos’ most popular tourist destinations. Every year, thousands of devotees from Laos and nearby countries gather there for a mass almsgiving ceremony on
the final day of the colourful annual festival to celebrate the temple.
This festival is bigger than any other festival in Champassak province because it features a wide range of activities and attracts hundreds of thousands of people from many countries.
The site covers a large area and is in a spectacular setting, raised on a hill and overlooking a plain, and visitors can spend the whole day exploring this mystical place.
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