Visit Khonphapheng and pay respect to the sacred manikhot tree

Visitors often begin their visit by paying respect and asking for a good luck and good health at a manikhot tree in the pavilion at Khonphapheng waterfall, Champassak province in southern Laos.
The revered tree was removed from a rocky outcrop in the middle of the waterfall and placed in a specially built pavilion after it fell down during a storm in 2013.
Aside from the splendour of the waterfall, Khonphapheng has had long-standing links with the legendary tree, which was once reachable only by birds.
According to legend, the manikhot is a holy tree mentioned in the ancient Sanskirt epic Pra Lak-Pra Lam or Ramayana.

The manikhot tree in the pavilion. --Photo provided to Vientiane Times

The legend states that eating the fruits from the first limb of this tree will bring eternal youth and long life, while fruits from the second limb will bring great power and status. Fruits from the third limb, pointing to the west, bring bad luck and the eater will turn into a monkey.
People still believe the tree is holy and has the powers stated in the epic.
The history of the manikhot tree at Khonphapheng is unknown but local residents say it has been there since they were born. Some people insist it has been standing for at least 500 years, since the era of the Lane Xang Kingdom.
In Khonphapheng I’ve been there a few years ago, the loud sound of the waterfall was sometimes drowned by the shouts of a large group of children selling pictures of the sacred tree.
People buying one of the images were usually unable to move as more children gathered around and asked them to buy more pictures.
Pay a visit Khonephapheng, this spectacular sight is always top of the list for people visiting southern Laos. It is often referred to as the jewel or the pearl of the Mekong, and is located in the Si Phon Done (4,000 Islands) section of the river, near the border with Cambodia and 148 kilometres from Champassak provincial capital.
The falls are 15 kilometres in length and 10,782 metres (6.7 miles) at the widest section, and a truly impressive sight.
At this point, the river is constricted and the huge body of water is forced to cascade through a succession of rapids and steep drops over massive boulders.
The falls are especially dramatic in the rainy season when the river is in full spate and visitors can marvel at the power of the cascade as it thunders over sharp rocks.
This time of year is the ideal time to enjoy this majestic natural wonder, as the surrounding area is full of luxuriant green growth with plants and shrubs at their best after soaking up the abundant rain.
Many visitors to the area like to spend a night or two on one of the small islands in the Mekong River, especially Don Det and Don Khone, which are very laid back, rustic, and far from the bustle of city life.
How to get there: From central Champassak province, take Route 13 South for 150 km, then turn right off the highway at the sign pointing to Khonphapheng. Not far down this road, you will see another sign pointing to Khonphapheng, where you must turn left. Follow the road to the waterfall. The distance from Vientiane to Khonphapheng is 900 km.
In addition, some waterfalls in Champassak in southern Laos are popular tourist destinations with both locals and tourists from Thailand.
Unlike the Yeuang Waterfall, many local tourists are opting to play in the waters, and capturing their treasured moments for posterity. The Yeuang waterfall in Pakxong district, about 40 from the provincial capital, is one such waterfall.
Pakxong district is also the The Bolaven Plateau in the south of Laos and agri-tourism destination thanks to its year round temperate climate.
Some local visitors have been known to say they don’t need to go to Europe to enjoy a cool climate but can come to Pakxong district in Champassak province instead, where temperatures are relatively mild.
The Bolaven Plateau runs through Champassak province’s Pakxong district, Saravan province’s Lao-ngam, and Xekong province’s Thataeng district and boasts a wealth of scenic beauty.
Champassak is at the southern extreme of Laos, and is a centre of tourism and trade acting as a gateway for the southern provinces.
The province has an abundance of natural, cultural and historical tourist attractions. The most scenic of these are the Yeuang, Fane, Pasuam, E-Tu, Champi and Khonphapheng waterfalls, and the Vat Phou temple ruins and others.
There are three more waterfalls of note in Saravan province, namely Lo, Hang and Xeset, and then there is the Sinouk Resort in Xekong province, which are all very popular with both local and foreign visitors.

By Khonsavanh Latsaphao
(Latest Update August 3, 2022)