Vat Pa Houak
ວັດປ່າຮວກ
"The Temple of the Thornless Bamboo Forest" was founded in 1861 by Phaya Si Mahanam and built in Siamese style. This temple was formerly used as the private chapel of the king. There are no resident monks at this temple and the sim is only open on certain holy days. Inside are rare nineteenth century murals depicting the humbling of King Jambupati by the Buddha and other scenes showing Luang Prabang as a heavenly city receiving Chinese, European and Persian visitors. Infamously, the French art historian Henri Parmentier in his L'art du Laos described these charming and interesting murals as "ridiculous".
Despite recent minor renovations the sim and its murals are in a badly deteriorated state.
[www.orientalarchitecture.com]
Despite recent minor renovations the sim and its murals are in a badly deteriorated state.
[www.orientalarchitecture.com]
