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The mysterious Plain Of Jars in north-eastern Laos is one of the highlights of any trip to the country. The giant stone vessels are littered across a barren plain covering the plain of Xieng Khuang. Phonsavan is the nearest town of any size to the plain, and serves as the accommodation and tourist centre for the region.
Archaeologists believe that the jars were used 1,500 to 2,000 years ago, by an ancient people whose culture is now long forgotten. Most of the jars are thought to be around 1,200 to 1,500 years old, and are thought to have been used as funeral urns or for food storage.
The main town in the area is Phonsavan, provincial capital of Xieng Khuang. Phonsavan itself is not particularly interesting, evoking a dusty, frontier town feel. Accommodation is basic and not as good value as elsewhere in Laos, basically comprising a string of guest houses located to the west of the town market. The surrounding countryside however is very pretty and a day's excursion is well worth the effort. During the rainy season, its rolling hills are covered with green grass and thickets of pine - in stark contrast to the usual fare of mountains and jungle. It wasn't always thus however. In addition to being home to the Plain of Jars, Xieng Khuang province also has the (undoubtedly unwanted) distinction of being the most heavily bombed region in Laos during the US' "secret war" during the late 1960's and early 70's. As the area remains littered with unexploded ordinance (UXO), caution should be exercised when travelling off the beaten path. To explore Phonsavan further, and for details of special deals currently on offer for ElephantGuide.com users, simply select your channel of choice at left and let The Elephant guide you.
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