Wat That Luang, Luang Prabang

The columns within the sim of Wat That Luang are lacquered black and stencilled silver.

Wat That Luang is one of the more important monasteries in Luang Prabang, Laos. This is because the monastery has long been associated with Luang Prabang royalty. This is indicated by the dok so faa ornamentation on the roof of the main sim. The dok so faa of Wat That Luang consists of 15 metal parasols denoting the royal status of the temple. Indeed one of Luang Prabang's most imminent monarchs, King Sisavangvong, was buried here. The stupa containing the king's remains is located in front of the main congregational hall, or sim.

Wat That Luang was one of the last stops for me for the day, when I was Luang Prabang and documenting its heritage sites. I learned that Wat That Luang was built by King Manthatourat (1817-36). It sits on a hillock with the driveway leading from the entrance archway sloping uphill. The sim of Wat That Luang is said to have been built using lumber taken from a banyan tree (or bodhi tree) that once stood at Wat Keo (now known as Wat Phra Bat Tai).

There are two main stupas at Wat That Luang, one on the front of the sim while the other at the rear. As mentioned earlier, the one in front is said to house the remains of King Sisavangvong. The one behind is said to house relics of the Buddha. Smaller stupas containing the ashes of other members of royalty and noblemen as also found around the temple compound.

Many funerary rites for royalties were conducted here. The one for King Oum Kham in 1896 was "state-of-the-art" in its time. Traditionally, the funerary pyre of royals are lit with fire taken from the capital city. In 1896, as Luang Prabang was under French rule, the capital city was Paris. The generator at Wat That Luang received the spark to lit the pyre from the telegraph wires from Paris.

View of the sim of Wat That Luang from the rear stupa.

Side view of the sim showing its dok so faa decoration on the roof.

The stupa at the front of the sim, said to house the remains of King Sisavangvong.

The stupa at the rear of the sim, said to house relics of the Buddha.

The principal Buddha image within the sim of Wat That Luang.

The archway into Wat That Luang.

How to go to Wat That Luang

Wat That Luang is located along New Mano Road. It can be seen in most maps of Luang Prabang. If you are staying along the Luang Prabang peninsula, it may be a distance to walk, so I would advise that you get a tuk tuk to take you there.

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