Pha That Luang ("Great Stupa") is a large, gold-covered Buddhist stupa in the
centre of the city of Vientiane, capital of Laos.
Since its initial establishment, suggested to be in the 3rd century AD, the
stupa has undergone several reconstructions, as recently as the 1930s, due to
foreign invasions of the area.
It is generally regarded as the most important national monument in Laos as
well as a national symbol.
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Approaching the Great Stupa from the southwest.
Buddhist missionaries from the Mauryan Empire are believed to have been
sent by Emperor Ashoka, including Bury Chan or Praya Chanthabury
Pasithisak and five Arahanta monks, who brought a sacred relic (believed
to be the breastbone) of Buddha and enshrined it into the stupa in the
3rd century BC.
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Ho Thammasapha.
Ho Thammasapha is located north of the path leading to the Great Stupa.
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Theravada Buddhism is by far the most prominent organized religion in
the country, with more than 4,000 temples serving as the focus of
religious practice and the center of community life in rural areas.
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The Lao Buddhist Fellowship Organization (LBFO) is under the direction
of a supreme patriarch who resides in Vientiane and supervises the
activities of the LBFO's central office, the Ho Thammasapha.
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The Great Stupa seen from the southwest.
The area around Pha That Luang is now gated, to keep out traffic.
Previously, visitors could drive around the whole complex.
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The encircling walls are roughly 85 metres (279 feet) long on each
side and contain a large number of Lao and Khmer sculptures, including
one of Jayavarman VII.
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Wat That Luang Neua seen from the Great Stupa.
Wat That Luang Neua is classic Laos style Buddhist temple with three
particular points of interest.
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The first is the main temple building, the entrance to which is
flanked on both sides by statues of Buddha in a standing position.
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The front gable end of the roof features highly elaborated golden
stencil work.
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The inside of the temple building is also colourfully decorated with
many murals depicting scenes from the life of Buddha.
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See more at
Category:Wat That Luang Neua - Wikimedia Commons.
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West chapel of the Great Stupa.
The architecture of the building includes many references to Lao culture
and identity, and so has become a symbol of Lao nationalism.
- The first level is 68 by 69 metres (223 by 226 feet).
- The second level is 48 metres (157 feet) along each side.
- The third level is 30 metres (98 feet) along each side.
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From ground to pinnacle, Pha That Luang is 45.0 metres (147.6 feet)
high.
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Pinnacle of the Great Stupa.
Only the pinnacle is covered in real gold; the remainder of the stupa is
painted a gold color.
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The Great Stupa seen from the northwest.
On the left side we can see the north chapel, and on the right side we
can see the west chapel of the Great Stupa.
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Golden statue in the northwest corner of the cloister.
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North chapel of the Great Stupa.
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Painting showing the 1948 procession.
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East chapel of the Great Stupa.
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Trough for holy water (Hanglin).
Located in the cloister, shaped like a mythical serpent, it is used in
Lao New Year celebrations.
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Water is poured into a container on the serpent's tail, runs along the
trough and gushes from its mouth, bathing an image of Buddha housed in
a wooden structure near the altar.
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South chapel of the Great Stupa.
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See also
Source
Location
