Wat Wisunalat temple description and photos - Laos: Luang Prabang (Topic)

Wat Wisunalat temple description and photos - Laos: Luang Prabang. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Wat Wisunalat.

Photo and description

Wat Visunalat is the oldest temple in Luang Prabang. The sanctuary, also known as Wat Visun and Wat Visunnarat, was founded in 1512. The temple houses a valuable collection of ancient Buddha images. Wat Visunalat consists of a sim, as the temple itself is called, a simple structure and Tat Pathum, a large stupa erected in the Sinhala style.

The temple complex burned down in 1887 when Luan Prabang was partially destroyed and plundered by the Black Flag army "By a group of rebels from China. The temple was rebuilt in 1898.

An engraving by Louis Delaporte, a French explorer who traveled to Cambodia and Laos in the 1860s and 70s, shows the previous building, Wat Visunalata, more elegant and luxuriously decorated. rather than the current temple. The roof of the old sanctuary was supported by massive wooden pillars 30 meters high.

The image of Buddha Prabang, revered in Laos, was located at Wat Visunalat in 1513-1707 and 1867-1887. It is now housed in the Royal Palace, converted into the National Museum.

Sim (temple) Wat Visunalata is a brick building with a two-level roof decorated with stylized images of nagas. In the center of the roof you can see the "dock with faa" - a decorative element that represents 17 miniature stupas under umbrellas. The sim's wooden doors are from a previous 16th century building. They are gilded and carved. On them you can see the images of the Hindu gods Vishnu, Brahma, Indra and Shiva.

The largest statue of Buddha in Luang Prabang is kept in Sim. Around the gilded sculpture is a large number of small Buddha figurines made of bronze and wood. Some of them are more than 400 years old.

The Tat Pathum Stupa is 35 meters high and was built in the early 16th century. It is crowned with a dome that resembles a watermelon, therefore the inhabitants of Luang Prabang often call this stupa the Watermelon. The Tat Pathum stupa also suffered from the actions of the Black Flag bandits. It contained ancient images of Buddhas that were stolen. Those statues that remained intact have now been transferred to the Royal Palace.

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Topic: Wat Wisunalat temple description and photos - Laos: Luang Prabang.