Wat Xiengmouane
Wat Xiengmouane Vajiramangalaram, Wat Xieng Mouane, Vat Xieng Mouane, Wat Sieng Mouan Monastery of Melodious Sounds, 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 Xiengmouane Travel Information
Wat Xiengmouane is another small Laotian monastery on Sotika Kuman Road, one of the roads the run parallel to the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers in Luang Prabang. Located next to Wat Choum Khong, it is one of the monasteries I visited in Luang Prabang.
Wat Xiengmouane founded by Phragna Sisonxay in 1865, during the reign of King Chantarath (1851-72). In the beginning, it was called Monastery of Melodious Sounds, due to the harmonious sounds of its gongs. Later on, it was given another nickname, Monastery of Joyous town.
The sim of Wat Xiengmouane has a two-tier roof, one porch and triple nave. It originally had three windows, but more were added during the restoration in 1964. Within the compound of Wat Xiengmouane are several stupas and chapels.
There is also a vocational school within the compound of Wat Xiengmouane. This school was started by Unesco and funded by a grant from the government of Norway. Its purpose is to teach the novice monks the traditional arts and crafts such as lacquer work, stencilling, painting, glass mosaic, wood carving, sculpture and other ornamental works for the Laotian temples. Some of the handiwork of the students are on display in one of the rooms.
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.
A chapel and a couple of stupas in the compound of Wat Xiengmouane.
A vocational school for novices at Wat Xiengmouane.
Some of the works of the novices.
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).
