[Luang Prabang] Wat Xieng Thong highlights

Wat Xieng Thong is said to be the most beautiful in Laos! The gentle curve of the roof of the main hall is distinctive. This Buddhist temple was built in 1560 by King Setthathirath of the Lan Xang Dynasty, and "Xeng Thong" was the name of Luang Prabang at the time. It means "golden city"✨ In fact, Wat Xieng Thong has a deep connection with Chiang Mai, Thailand. King Setthathirath, who built this temple, was also the king of the Lanna Dynasty, whose capital was Chiang Mai. This was the time when the Lan Xang Kingdom was spreading Buddhist culture. ①The "Mai Thong (Golden Tree)" on the outer wall behind the main hall (photos 1 and 4) The mosaic is simply beautiful. Actually, there is a legend that a 160m tall tree stood in this place, and it was created in the 1960s. The golden tree is also likened to the "Tree of Life," the axis of the universe, and represents the way the Buddhist world is supported on it. ② Decoration of the side wall painted in gold on a black background (photos 5 and 8) The walls and pillars of the main hall are painted black and vermilion. The hall is covered with intricate gold stencil paintings, giving it a very solemn feel. The paintings include the life of Buddha, gods, creatures from heaven (so cute!), and the king's procession. The gabled front and doors are also decorated with wood carvings. ③ Mosaic made of colored glass on the side wall of the Red Chapel (photo 2) This was created around 1956 to commemorate the 2,500th anniversary of the birth of Buddha, so it is quite recent. The rural life and festivals of Luang Prabang are depicted in very cute colors. ④ Hearse garage (photos 6, 7, 12, and 13) The building that houses the hearse used for the funeral of King Sisavangvong, the last king of the Luang Prabang Kingdom and the first king of Laos. This is also a relatively recent building, dating back to 1959. Inside is a gorgeous hearse with a golden dragon motif and many other Buddha statues. ⑤The decoration on the roof of the main hall (11th photo) Doksofa is a temple with 17 spires. The number of spires seems to represent the status of the temple. ⑥The unique lion house (last photo) It is located at the entrance facing Khem Khong Road along the Mekong River. This is the first time I've seen such a unique lion statue! If you visit Luang Prabang, please take your time to look around the temple. The detailed decorations are very beautiful. 📍Location: Khem Khong, Luang Prabang, Laos 💰Price per person: 20,000 kip 🕰️Opening hours: 8:00-17:00 #AsiaTravelDiary #Laos #FuriTabiWinter