Vat That Luang Rasamahavihan
ວັດທາດຫຼວງ ຣາຊາມະຫາວິຫານ
One of Luang Prabang's grandest temples, "The Temple of the Great Stupa" was founded on 27 May 1548 by King Setthatirath and was associated with the Main Palace and the king. The main stupa behind the sim was officially called Phra Sitham Hai Sokarath and is said to have originally contained relics of the Buddha and also more recently those of King Manthaturath (r.1817 - 1836). Commonly it is simply referred to as That Luang, "Royal Stupa".
Inside the sim the main Buddha image weighs about 600kg and was transferred from Vat Aham Mungkhun which was no longer in use. The current sim and main chedi date to 1818 and were drawn by Louis Delaporte when the French Mekong Expedition stopped at Luang Prabang in 1867. The temple suffered sever damage in a storm in 1900 and underwent major renovation ten years later.
Recent renovation work to the roof and the interior was carried out 2024. This included restoration of the stencil art on the doors, window shutters and pillars that had been done previously in the 1980's by Achan Manivong Khattiyarat. This restoration was carried out by a team of monks from Vat Siphoutthabat under the direction of Tiao Nithakhong Somsanith.
Vat That Luang stands above the traditional royal funerary grounds known as Sanam That Luang where funerals have been held for Prince Phetsarath (1959), King Sisavangvong (1961) and Pha Khamchan Virachitta Maha Thela (2007). The remains of King Sisavangvong are interred in the chedi at the front of the sim and his family still gather to pay their respects here each year on the anniversary of his passing, 29th October.
Inside the sim the main Buddha image weighs about 600kg and was transferred from Vat Aham Mungkhun which was no longer in use. The current sim and main chedi date to 1818 and were drawn by Louis Delaporte when the French Mekong Expedition stopped at Luang Prabang in 1867. The temple suffered sever damage in a storm in 1900 and underwent major renovation ten years later.
Recent renovation work to the roof and the interior was carried out 2024. This included restoration of the stencil art on the doors, window shutters and pillars that had been done previously in the 1980's by Achan Manivong Khattiyarat. This restoration was carried out by a team of monks from Vat Siphoutthabat under the direction of Tiao Nithakhong Somsanith.
Vat That Luang stands above the traditional royal funerary grounds known as Sanam That Luang where funerals have been held for Prince Phetsarath (1959), King Sisavangvong (1961) and Pha Khamchan Virachitta Maha Thela (2007). The remains of King Sisavangvong are interred in the chedi at the front of the sim and his family still gather to pay their respects here each year on the anniversary of his passing, 29th October.
