The assembly hall of Wat Souvanna Khiri, Luang Prabang.
Your base for this tourist attraction is the Unesco World Heritage town of Luang Prabang, Laos. For tourist information about Luang Prabang, go to Luang Prabang Travel Guide. To prepare for a trip to Laos, read also the Laos Travel Guide. Looking for budget accommodation there? Use AsiaExplorers Budget Accommodation Guide, the no-frills website to cover your budget accommodation needs.
Wat Souvanna Khiri Travel Information
Wat Souvanna Khiri, which means Monastery of the Golden Mountain, is yet another Laotian temple located along Sakkarine Road, the main road along the small peninsula of Luang Prabang. I visited at Wat Souvanna Khiri at the heat of midday. It was one of the last temples I visited that morning before I took a rest for lunch.
Wat Souvanna Khiri was built in 1773 by Chao Kham Sattha. I believe he was a monk, but I am not sure, as it was not stated in the documents I researched. Anyway, he came from Xieng Khouang province. As a result, the sim of Wat Souvanna Khiri resembles those found in the Plain of Jars. It has a pair of gold columns and a double roof.
One unique aspect about Wat Souvanna Khiri is that not all of its buildings are in the traditional Laotian style. Its monks living quarters is built in French colonial style. I am not sure whether this colonial-style building was intended as part of the wat, or was it built for other purposes, and somehow became the monks' living quarters.
Wat Souvanna Khiri is located near the end of the Luang Prabang peninsula, where the Nam Khan River makes a sharp bend before entering the Mekong River.
If you're going to Luang Prabang, you'd be glad to know that the town is quite small. You can go to most places on foot if you want to. Otherwise, you can also catch a tuk tuk to take you around. As for accommodation, they range from very simple, basic beds to boutique hotels. You can visit the Luang Prabang Hotels guide for a list of budget accommodation.
The monks' living quarters is in this colonial-style building.
A stupa at the rear of the sim.
The sim of Wat Souvanna Khiri.
5 Days 4 Nights Romantic Luang Prabang Tour
Explore Luang Prabang, Pak Ou, Kuang Si Waterfalls on this 5 day 4 nights tour, provided by Exotissimo Travel in conjunction with AsiaExplorers. Details here. (This tour is conducted only until September 2012).
