Vat Xieng Thong Sayaroharamathibodimahaviharn
ວັດຊຽງທອງ ໄຊຍະ ໂຣຫະຣາມາທິບໍດີມະທາວິຫາຣ
Luang Prabang's most important temple. Built c.1561 by King Setthathirath who donated his palace grounds at the end of the peninsula for the building of a temple when he moved the Lan Xang capital to Vientiane. The sim is considered the epitome of Lao architecture and fortunately escaped destruction during the 1887 Haw invasion. It was a royally sponsored temple where coronations were held until the end of monarchy in 1975. It still plays an important role in Luang Prabang ceremonies. The beautiful glass mosaic work on the buildings in the monastery depicting the flame-of-the-forest tree as the tree of life, Jataka stories as well as the Lao story of Sin Sai, were the work of Lao artist Thao Sin Keo in the 1960's. The beautiful gold stencil art work covering the walls inside the sim depict tales of King Chanthaphanith, a betel nut merchant who legend says became king of Luang Prabang.
Whilst tourists now enter via the southern entrance off the main street, in former time important visitors would arrive by boat and climb the grand staircase from the river on the northern side.
Apart from the sim itself, several important chapels lie within the monastery grounds;
Whilst tourists now enter via the southern entrance off the main street, in former time important visitors would arrive by boat and climb the grand staircase from the river on the northern side.
Apart from the sim itself, several important chapels lie within the monastery grounds;
The Red Chapel houses a bronze reclining Buddha image donated by King Setthathirath in 1569.
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The Chapel of the Buddhas houses the important Phra Man Buddha image which was bought to Luang Prabang in the 1960's.
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The Standing Buddha Chapel houses a Buddha image presented by Thailand's king Bhumiphol in 1965.
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The Chapel of the Funeral Chariot was built in the early 1960's to house the funeral carriage of King Sisavangvong (r.1904-1959)
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