Wat That, Luang Prabang

The sim of Wat That has an impressive front façade.

Wat That is one of the most ornate Lao temples in Luang Prabang. Its official name is Wat Phra Mahathat, which translate as Monastery of the Great Relic. The name is also variously written as Vat That, Wat Pha Mahathat and Wat Si Mahathat. Wat That is located along the Chao Fa Ngum Road, the main road in Luang Prabang, near Nam Phou Square. There is a short flight of steps from Chao Fa Ngum Road that leads to Wat That. Alternatively, you can enter it via the adjacent Buddhist temple, Wat Hosian.

Wat That has a lovely Laotian style sim (main hall) with lacquered and stenciled columns. The gable is ornately decorated. On the roof of the sim is a metal ornamentation called Dok So Fa which common among Laotian temples. The Dok So Fa is said to symbolise the universe. The Dok So Far of Wat That is in the form of fifteen spires.

From the front entrance, you can see a seated Buddha image. Behind Wat That is a chedi. I visited Wat That while Luang Prabang. On the whole, I did Wat That twice, the second time when the sky was a clear blue, and came back with the shots for this AsiaExplorers documentation.

The sim of Wat That.

Side view of the sim of Wat That.

Monks line Chao Fa Ngum Road outside Wat That while it was still dark, in preparation of Binthabat, their morning alms round.

The back portion of Wat That's sim.

The chedi of Wat That.

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