Laos, Asia
The Plain of Jars is a collection of over 2,000 megalithic stones shaped like jars scattered throughout the central plain of the Xiangkhoang Plateau in Laos. The jars range from 1 to 3 meters in height and diameter. With the heaviest weighing 14 tons.
According to Lao legends, a race of giants created the jars after victory over their enemy. Using the jars to brew and store large amounts of lau hai which translates to ‘rice beer’ or ‘rice wine’.
It is believed that the actual purpose of the jars was to act as a type of distilling vessel where a body would be placed until it decomposed, later allowing for cremation and burial of the skeletal remains. This aligns with the funeral practices of Laotian royalty that saw a corpse placed into an urn during the beginning stage of funeral rights, allowing the soul of the deceased to undergo the transformation into the spirit world.
Visit
Of the 90 jar sites, only 8 are available to visit due to difficult terrain and the unexploded ordinance from the Vietnam War littering the locations. Sites that allow visitors have been cleared and you can buy a ticket. There are 3 ways to visit:
Join a tour from Phonsavan – you cannot book a tour online, but if you ask your hotel they will guide you to an agency or book it for you. The cost of the tour will depend on the number of people in your party but usually starts at around 150,000 kip per person for a guided tour.
Rent a bicycle in Phonsavan for around 20,000 kip per day
Rent a motorbike- depending on the size of the bike you’re looking at 80,000 – 120,000 kip per day
Plain of Jars Site 28, 7, Nakhuon, Phou Kout District, Xiangkhouang Province, Laos
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