Laos: The famous Pak Ou Cave, 25km northwest of Luang Prabang on the Mekong River, illustrated by French expeditioner Louis Delaporte in May 1867.

French expeditioner Garnier wrote: “Despite the originality of this religious decoration, I wondered if it did not lessen the natural grandeur of this cave and whether the sparkling of stalactites might not have been preferable to the faded gilt and colors stained by humidity of these Buddhist trinkets. Travelers and river boatmen are the pious clientele of this cave and the priests who tend it and dwell on the opposite bank, in the village of Pak Hou, never lack flowers or offerings.”

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Pictures From History