Vientiane Temples

Vientiane, Laos – 2018. Because Vientiane has been the capital of Laos since 1563 it has many important monuments. In 1827 the city was looted then razed to the ground so few of the current temple buildings are original. I have included photos of a few of Vientiane’s most important temples which are - Wat Si Saket, the oldest standing temple in Vientiane, Wat Ho Phra Keo (Hophakaew Museum) is a 1942 reconstruction of what was once King Setthathirat’s royal temple, Wat Si Muang was first built in in 1563, destroyed by Siamese invaders and rebuilt a number of times, and the present Wat dates from 1915 and Pha That Luang which is a national symbol of Laos and one of the most important religious monuments in the country.
The cloister walls of Wat Si Saket with hundreds of niches each holding an image of the Buddha
The cloister walls of Wat Si Saket three of the many old Buddhas on display at the Sisaket Museum
The outer cloister of Wat Si Saket
Five-tier-roofed sim of Wat Si Saket
The abbots throne at Wat Si Saket
One of the many old Buddhas on display at the Sisaket Museum
A Naga on display at the Sisaket Museum
The cloister walls of Wat Si Saket with hundreds of niches each holding an image of the Buddha. This small area has been restored.
Burial Stupas surrounding the Wat Si Saket
Intricate wood carvings near the gardens of Wat Ho Phra Keo
A bronze dragon at the rear doors of Wat Ho Phra Keo (Hophakaew Museum)
Wat Ho Phra Keo (Hophakaew Museum) – a beautiful building
Some rather unusual statues in the grounds of Wat Si Muang
The flowers of a Cannonball tree
Wat Si Muang, Vientiane, Laos
Some rather unusual statues in the grounds of Wat Si Muang
Wat Si Muang, Vientiane, Laos
A large drum, gong and bell inside the fount area of the Wat Si Muang sim
One of the outer buildings at Wat Si Muang
A large stone Buddha at Wat Si Muang
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