Wat Ban Pak Ou, Luang Prabang

The sim of Wat Ban Pak Ou.

Wat Ban Pak Ou is the village temple of Ban Pak Ou, on the opposite bank of the Mekong River from the famous Pak Ou Caves. I explored this wat after a lunch rest at Ban Pak Ou.

Wat Ban Pak Ou is a charming example of Laotian village style religious complex. Our guide explained to us the different parts that make up a Laotian Buddhist temple, or wat. A wat consists of a sim, the main building for monks and novices to pray. Then, there's the stupa where the relics of the deceased is entombed. There should also be a drum tower or gong tower, which is used to call the people on important days in the Buddhist calendar. This happens about twice a month. In addition, there would be a dining room where the monks and novices have their breakfast and lunch. And finally, there the dormitory, the place for the monks and novices to sleep.

View of the sim of Wat Ban Pak Ou, with a stupa on its left.

A small structure beside the sim.

Another view of the sim of Wat Ban Pak Ou.

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