In the Laos province of Siangkhuang, there was an amazing and still little studied attraction of this country – the Kuvshinov Valley (on the map). Hundreds of huge vessels, which are made of granite, sandstone and rocky breeds, perform right from the ground at the foot of the Annamsk ridge. Their diameter is from half a meter to three, and the weight reaches 6 tons.
I want to in Laos!
The appearance of the vessels is quite simple and unpretentious. They somewhat remind the Stupa of our woman Yaga. Near some of them you can find stone discs, which, judging by the size, were once used as covers. Of the entire number of jugs, only one was found on one jewelry – a fragment of a bas -relief that depicts a floating person.
Almost nothing is known about the appearance of stone vessels. The valley of the jugs was discovered in the 30s of the XX century by French archaeologists. During the excavations, scientists came to the conclusion that the age of these finds is from 1,500 to 2000 years. Regarding the purpose of blood vessels and their production, there are still debate.
The main hypotheses explaining the appearance of stone jugs in the valley are two. The first is repelled from the fact that similar vessels were found in Thailand and north of India. They are located near the roads along which a lively trade route used to go. In this regard, scientists suggest that in such jugs, local merchants kept their goods or even ordinary water, because rains in these areas are very rare.
The second hypothesis proceeds from the results of several archaeological expeditions. During excavations in the jugs and near them, the remains of human bodies were found. According to historians, the valley served as a kind of morgue, and in the jugs they kept the bodies of the dead. For some time, the remains placed in the vessels were decomposed, and then they were buried in the ground.
Perhaps in the coming years the final answer will be found. 50 years serious archaeological excavations in this place were impossible. The war in Vietnam and its consequences interfered. During the conflict, the territory of the Kuvshin valley was repeatedly bombarded by US aircraft. Many vessels were destroyed, and the Earth still stores ammunition, on which local residents sometimes undermine. It is for this reason that the Valley of the jugs for a long time was closed to tourists and scientists.
Funnel from the bomb on the plain of jugs
Fortunately, the Laos authorities gradually purify the foot of the Anjam ridge of traces of war. Today, three sites with jugs have already been open for tourists. The most popular of them is called Thong Hai Hin. It is located 10 kilometers southwest of the city of Phonsavan. There are about 250 stone vessels, the weight of the largest of which reaches 3.7 tons, as well as a cave, in which, according to the beliefs of local residents, giants burned jugs for their needs. The entrance to the site is paid. The ticket cost is approximately 10 00 kip (80 rubles). The site is open for tourists from 6:30 to 18:30.
If you do not want to travel around the jug valley yourself, you can join one of the tourist groups. You can buy a ticket at almost any tourist agency of the city of Phonswan. In this case, the cost of visiting all three sites will be an average of 150,000 KIPs (1200 rubles) per person (excluding the price of the entrance ticket).
Currently, Laos authorities are negotiating with UNESCO on the assignment of the jugs of the status of the World Heritage status. In this case, they will be able to get funding to clean the sites from ammunition and completely open the valley for tourists.
Unfortunately, it is impossible to fly directly from Russia to Laos. So you have to make a transplant in Thailand, Cambodia, China or Vietnam. The most optimal option is the flight through Bangkok, from where regular flights are made in Vyentyan. From the capital of Laos, planes to Phonsavan fly several times a week, the flight lasts about 30 minutes. The bus overcomes the distance between the cities in 8 hours, but in this case you need to be prepared for shaking and stuffiness. Roads in this region are not in the best condition.
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Author: Roskin Mikhail
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