Wat Wisunalat
Wat Vixoun, Vat Visounarath, Wat Visounnarat, Wat Visoun, Vat Visounnarath, Vat Vixunhalat, Wat Wisunarat. Luang Prabang Unesco World Heritage Town
Wat Wisunalat, the principal temple of Luang Prabang, Laos.
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 Wisunalat Travel Info
Wat Wisunalat is the oldest temple in Luang Prabang that is still in use. This monastery is regarded as the symbol of the kingdom's unity. Located at the corner between Wisunalat Road and Phommathay Road, Wat Wisunalat is named after King Wisunalat (1501-20) who built it between 1512-1513. It is often also called Wat Vixoun, after the name of Vixoun village. I visited Wat Wisunalat with a small group of AsiaExplorers members who joined me on the trip to explore Luang Prabang.
Wat Wisunalat is one of the more significant temples in Luang Prabang, The Prabang Buddha was housed in its sim (main hall) from 1513 until 1707, when it was taken to Vientiane. The Prabang Buddha has since returned to Luang Prabang, and is now kept in Haw Kham, the Royal Palace Museum in the centre of Luang Prabang.
The present sim of Wat Wisunalat dates from 1898 - the original sim was destroyed by fire in 1887, when it was attacked by Chinese marauders. The style of the present sim is similar to the original, with heavy use of massive wooden beams, but with more brickwork and plaster than the original.
Within the sim are numerous Buddha scultures, many dating a few centuries old. They are in bronzed or gilded, or simple wood.
Within the compound of Wat Wisunalat is another distinctive landmark, the That Pathum. Next door to Wat Wisunalat is another significant temple, Wat Aham.
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.
Prayer flags at Wat Wisunalat.
Some of the Buddha sculptures in Wat Wisunalat.
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