Vat Xieng Thong Sayaroharamathibodi Mahaviharn
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 fortunately escaped destruction during the 1887 Haw invasion and is today considered the epitome of Lao architecture. 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's annual 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. The intricate wood carving of the Chapel of the Funeral Chariot was the work of Phia Sing (1898-1967), Phia Thit Tanh (1909-2000) and Acharn Manivong Khattiyarat (1929-2014).
Whilst visitors 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.
Vat Xieng Thong is listed in the UNESCO Heritage Inventory as #445
Apart from the sim itself, several important chapels lie within the monastery grounds;
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. The intricate wood carving of the Chapel of the Funeral Chariot was the work of Phia Sing (1898-1967), Phia Thit Tanh (1909-2000) and Acharn Manivong Khattiyarat (1929-2014).
Whilst visitors 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.
Vat Xieng Thong is listed in the UNESCO Heritage Inventory as #445
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 built 1957 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 1968.
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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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