Luang Prabang Travel Guide
@ Louangphrabang, Former capital of Laos
The AsiaExplorers Luang Prabang Travel Guide is created to provide you a comprehensive listing of all the heritage sites located in the Unesco World Heritage Town of Luang Prabang, Laos. Luang Prabang, also written Louangphrabang, is the former capital of Laos, or rather, of the Kingdom of Luang Prabang. The above photograph shows just one of the many, many temples I explored when I organised the trip to Luang Prabang for AsiaExplorers. Luang Prabang is located on the banks of the Mekong River, 425 km north of Vientiane. Until the communist takeover in 1975, Luang Prabang was the royal capital of the Kingdom of Laos. It is a city with a long history, and several different names. Today, in recognition of its impressive history and level of restoration, Unesco accorded Luang Prabang World Heritage Site status in December of 1995.
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The Unesco report listed 33 temples and 111 historic Lao-French buildings for specific restoration. It cited Luang Prabang as the best-preserved traditional town in Southeast Asia. Luang Prabang has its isolation to thank for enabling it to be so well-preserved. Although it was once a trading outpost among the peoples of upper Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, southern China and Burma, there was little contact with non-Asian countries until the French arrived in the mid-19th century.
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Luang Prabang History
For centuries before Luang Prabang was founded, several Thai-Lao principalities flourished in the area around Luang Prabang, in the valleys of the Mekong. In 698AD, there was a city called Muang Sua in the area where Luang Prabang is located. From the 11th to the 14th Centuries, there was a city called Xieng Dong Xieng Thong in this area. From 1185 to 1191, Xieng Dong Xieng Thong came under a brief period of suzerainty under Khmer ruler Jayavarman VII of Angkor Thom.
In 1353, King Fa Ngum created the first Lao Kingdom, called Lan Xang, or Kingdom of One Million Elephants. At this time, the city was known as Xaxa. Later, it was renamed Meuang Xieng Thong, or Gold City District, in 1357. After that, King Fa Ngum received from the Khmer sovereign a gift of a Sinhalese Buddha image called Pha Bang, and from this image is derived the present name, Luang Prabang.
Luang Prabang is located along the banks of the Mekong where it meets the Nam Khan river. A distinctive feature of the town is the 100 meter (330 ft) Mount Phu Si (also spelled Phousy), a rocky outcrop that offers all round splended views. The old quarters can be easily covered on foot or by tuk tuk.
Sights in and around Luang Prabang
 | Ban Muang KeoThis is the village of Lao-whisky.
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 | Ban Pak OuThis village, on the opposite bank of the Mekong from Pak Ou Caves, is turning itself into a stopover point for tourists.
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 | Cottage Industries of LaosView the cottage industries that is developing in Luang Prabang.
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 | Haw Pha Bang ChapelThis chapel, located within the grounds of the Royal Palace Museum, is specially constructed to house the Pha Bang, the most sacred Buddha in Luang Prabang.
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 | Kuangsi WaterfallKuangsi Waterfall is a multi-tier cascade and a favourite spot for local picnickers.
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 | Unesco Office in Luang PrabangLa Maison du Patrimoine, the office of Unesco in Luang Prabang.
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 | Mekong RiverOne of the most important rivers in Southeast Asia flows through Luang Prabang.
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 | Mount PhousiThe hill at the centre of Luang Prabang provides scenic views all around.
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 | Nam Phou SquareA fountain in Luang Prabang.
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 | Pak Ou CavesCave temple by the banks of the Mekong River.
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 | Royal Palace MuseumFormer residence of the king of Laos is today open to the public as the Royal Palace Museum of Luang Prabang.
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Buddhist temples in Luang Prabang
 | That Pathum (Watermelon Stupa)That Pathum, the Stupa of the Great Lotus, is also often called That Makmo, meaning Watermelon Stupa, on account of its endearing shape.
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 | Wat Aham
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 | Wat Aphai
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 | Wat Ban Pak OuThis is a village temple for Pak Ou Village, on the opposite side of the Mekong from Pak Ou Caves.
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 | Wat Chom PhetThis small wat is located on the opposite bank of the Mekong River from Luang Prabang.
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 | Wat Chom SiThis is the small shrine at the peak of Mount Phousi.
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 | Wat Choum Khong
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 | Wat Hosian
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 | Wat Mai SuwannaphumahamOne of the major wats in Luang Prabang, Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham once housed the Pha Bang Buddha before it was moved to the Royal Palace.
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 | Wat MeunnaRoughly translated, this wat means the Monastery of Ten Thousand Rice Fields.
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 | Wat Monorom
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 | Wat Nong Sikhounmuang
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 | Wat On
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 | Wat Paa KhaaThis monastery is at the moment in total ruins.
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 | Wat Pa KheMonastery of the Forest of Khe Trees
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 | Wat Pa Phai
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 | Wat Pak HuakThis is a small, rather neglected wat at the foot of Mount Phousi, on the opposite side of the road from the Royal Palace Museum.
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 | Wat Pak KhanThis monastery is located close to the tip of the peninsula where Luang Prabang is located.
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 | Wat Phan Luang
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 | Wat Phonesaat
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 | Wat Phone Xai
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 | Wat Phra Bat Tai
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 | Wat Phra Phome Phao
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 | Wat SensoukharamThis is one of the bigger, and more ornate, monastery in Luang Prabang.
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 | Wat Siri Moung Khoung
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 | Wat Sop
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 | Wat Souvanna Khiri
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 | Wat Tham Phu SiThis is a small shrine on the way up Mount Phousi
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 | Wat That
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 | Wat Tao Hai
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 | Wat That Luang
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 | Wat Wisunalat (Wat Vixoun)This is the monastery that includes the Watermelon Stupa.
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 | Wat Xiengmouane
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 | Wat Xieng ThongThis is the biggest and most famous monastery in Luang Prabang.
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Tim, at right, with Chooi Yoke at the signboard proclaiming Luang Prabang as a Unesco World Heritage Site.
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