Vat Mai Souvannapoumahram
​ວັດໄໝ່ ສຸວັນນະພູມາຣາມ

Originally founded around 1796 this temple was restored in 1821 when the porches at the front and back were added and it was renamed "The New Temple", Vat Mai. The galleries along each side were added in 1891. This was the temple of the royal family and still one of the most important in Luang Prabang. Notable for its striking bright red five-tiered Lao style roof and the elaborate gold painted bas-reliefs on the entrance wall dating from 1962 depicting the Ramayana and the Vessantara Jataka stories. The Prabang Buddha image was held here until 1947 after the destruction of Vat Visoun in 1887. It was one of the few temples that survived the Haw invasion of 1887. During Phi Mai celebrations each year the Prabang is bought back to Vat Mai for three days of veneration. Vat Mai was the seat of the Lao Supreme Patriarch until 1984. [www.orientalarchitecture.com]

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