Travelling Laos, besides visiting the famous sights such as capital Vientiane, Monument Pha That Luang, Heritage City Luang Prabang or Legendary Town Vang Vieng...you definitely cannot ignore Phousi Mount - the highest point in Luang Prabang. Phousi Mount is the ideal place for visitors to enjoy the whole poetic scenery of the ancient capital by Mekong River.
Phou Si means Color Mount is a small mount located in the northeast of Luang Prabang. It is 1000m long, 250m wide and 80m high. From the foot to the top, you need to go through 329 stairs built of red bricks. On the way there is the rest place for visitors.
On the stairs leading to the top of Phou Si, you will see hundreds of old frangipani trees (Champa trees) with white-blooming flowers emitting a pure scent over Phou Si Region. Tourists walking on these stairs often pick up the falling petals on the ground and place them on the wall.
Reach the top of the mount; you will feel a serene and extremely cool atmosphere. Phou Si Mount hides itself in the old frangipani forest enhancing the mystery and majesty for this place.
On the top there is Chom Si Tower with a height of about 20m. Besides the tower there is a Buddhist shrine, inside there is a Buddha statue weighing about 50kg.
Also, there are on a lot of beautiful statues with serene faces, long slender fingers and Naga snake's protection.
From the peaceful Phou Si Mount, visitors can admire the gentle river Nam Khan or lovely Luang Prabang. On the foot of the mount, Royal Palace stands there with a wide regal campus, royal garden, somewhere looming curved pagoda roofs. Far away, the legendary Mekong River flows gently. Beyond the sight across the river we catch Phou Nang Mount (She Mount) and Phou Thao Mount (He Mount) associated with romantic love story…
Normally, when visiting Phousi, travelers do not forget to come over the pagoda and ask for a hexagram card. Wat Tham Chom Si Pagoda looks small but enough for a dozen people sitting for ceremony.
Some Lao people also come here, they often bring a bird cage with them to worship and release the birds back to life. According to locals’ conception, releasing birds means neutralizing bad things and hoping the wishes will come true, life is peaceful and happy.
