Vat Sanghalok (Vat Sisavan Tevalok)
​ວັດສັງຄະໂລກ (ວັດສີສະຫວັນເທວະໂລກ)

Now officially called Vat Sisavan Tevalok, this monastery was founded by King Phothisarath in 1527 and marks the ritual southern boundary of Luang Prabang, adjacent to the Nam Dong river. Five Mahayana style stone Buddha statues have been found here suggesting that this was the site of a Buddhist monastery as far back as the twelfth century CE, two centuries before Fa Ngum. Before 1975 Vat Sanghalok played an important role in Phi Mai (Lao New Year) ceremonies. On the second day of the new year the king would travel down river to Vat Sanghalok where he would both ceremonially pour water over the Buddha image there as well as providing the opportunity for the monks, officials and lay people to make merit by having waters poured over himself. 

---