Pha That Luang—Vientiane, Laos - Buddhist Temples and Public Shrines on Waymarking.com

The stupa Pha That Luang (Great Stupa) is a gold-covered large Buddhist stupa in the centre of the capital of Laos, the city of Vientiane. It is surrounded by other cultural important buildings and artefacts, and is considered one of the defining symbols of the nation.

The temple housed a Buddhist relic, a bone of the Buddha. The original construction dates back to the 3rd century AD, when a much small Buddhist temple was constructed on this site. In the 13th century, at the height of the Khmer Empire, the temple was rebuilt in the Khmer style. Then in the 15th century the temple was again rebuilt in the style seen today. In 1828, along with the rest of the city, the temple was destroyed by the Thai army. In the late 19th century and then in the 1930s the French administration of Laos restored the temple.

At the current time the stupa is in a pristine state, as befits its role as a national symbol, and tourist attraction.

The stupa is approximately 50m on a side, a approximately 50m high. It is a bright gold in colour, and an attractive site. The grounds of the stupa are surrounded by a wall and are now generally closed, opened only on organised occasions or somewhat haphazardly (I was told) for causal visitors (such as myself). The grounds contain historical statues and cultural artefacts.

The details of the stupa history are hard to come by, and are somewhat contradictory, however, the stupa clearly shows that its fortunes waxed and waned in conjunction with the surrounding governments and political powers.

Open to visitors?: Yes Photography Permitted Inside?: Yes Statue of the Buddha present?: Yes Related Website: Not listed

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Date Logged Log User Rating   11/16/2017 franketmuriel visited it 03/27/2015 ChrisA33 visited it 12/25/2013 juhanili visited it

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