Henri Mouhot

The tomb of Henri Mouhot

Ignoring the misconception that French naturalist and explorer Henri Mouhot discovered Angkor in 1860, he was still instrumental in bringing it to the attention of the West and it was his posthumously published 'Travels in Siam, Cambodia and Laos' that evoked lost civilizations in the jungle. From his base in Bangkok he made four journeys into the three countries covered in his journals and overcame extreme hardship before succumbing to malaria in the jungle near Luang Prabang in Laos. Two of his servants buried him by the banks of the Nam Khan river and his favourite servant, Phrai, transported all of Mouhot's journals and specimens to Bangkok, from where they were shipped to Europe. He died in November 1861 and his journals were published two years later. His tomb was lost for many years and only rediscovered in 1990. Today its a popular stop on the tourist route and lies just a few kilometres from Luang Prabang.

A sign explaining the different routes to the tomb

From behind the tomb, looking through the forest shade to the Nam Khan river nearby

The free-flowing Nam Khan river just twenty yards from Mouhot's final resting place

A drawing of Henri Mouhot