Temple of Khao Phra Kev (Haw Phra Kaew) description and photos - Laos: Vientiane (Topic)

Haw Phra Kaew temple description and photos - Laos: Vientiane. Detailed information about the attraction. Description, photographs and a map showing the nearest significant objects. The name in English is Haw Phra Kaew.

Photo and description

The former Vientiane temple of Hao Phra Kev is located a hundred meters from one of the most famous landmarks of the Lao capital - the temple of Wat Sisaket. It appeared on the territory of the old royal palace in 1565-1566 and was intended only for the royal family. Monks did not come here from different parts, which distinguished this temple from the rest of the sanctuaries of Vientiane.

King Settatirat, who just made Vientiane his new capital, installed here a valuable statue of the Emerald Buddha, delivered from Chiang Mai. This image was in the temple for over 200 years, until in 1779 Vientiane was captured by the Siamese troops of General Chao Phraya Chakri, who founded the current royal Chakri dynasty in Thailand. The Hao Phra Kev Temple was destroyed, and the statue of the Emerald Buddha was taken to Tonburi, now an area of Bangkok, which in the past was a separate city. It is now at the Wat Phra Kaew shrine in Bangkok and is considered one of Thailand's treasures. Only at the end of the 20th century, the Thais presented Laos with a copy of the once stolen Emerald Buddha. In 1816, King Anouwong restored this temple and placed in it another image, created instead of the image of the Emerald Buddha.

When Laos rebelled against Thailand, the Siamese again destroyed most of the buildings in Vientiane, including this temple. It was reconstructed by the French in 1936-1942.

In the 1970s, it was no longer used for sacred purposes. It has been converted into a museum displaying the finest examples of Lao religious art. There are several Buddha statues on the terrace, including stone Buddhas dating from the 6th-9th centuries. There are also bronze figures of standing and seated Buddhas of later periods. In the former hall, intended for ceremonies, various sacred objects are collected, as well as valuable manuscripts and ancient steles with texts in the language of the Mon civilization.

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Topic: Temple of Khao Phra Kev (Haw Phra Kaew) description and photos - Laos: Vientiane.