- Address: Setatilat Street, Vientiane, Laos
- Founded: 1565-1566
- Working hours: Mon-Sat 8: 00-16: 00, break 12: 00-13: 00
Ho Pha Keo - the famous Buddhist temple (wah) in Vientiane , erected by the decree of King Settitarat in the period from 1565 to 1566 years. It is a popular historical landmark . There is a museum at the temple, visiting which you can learn about the history of Buddhism in the country.
A bit of history
Sam wat also has a very interesting and tragic story. Another name is the temple of the emerald Buddha - Ho Pha Keo earned thanks to a Buddha statue made of green jadeite and decorated with gold. The statue was kept in the temple until 1778, when Vientiane was captured by Siamese troops.
The monument was taken to Bangkok; since it was originally brought from Chiang Mai, a city in the north of Siam (modern Thailand), we can say that he just returned to his homeland. Now the Emerald Buddha, considered a talisman of Thailand, is saved in the temple of Phra Keo.
Having seized the statue, the Siamese troops destroyed the temple. It was restored only in the XIX century, during the reign of King Anouvong, but was soon destroyed again, and again - by Siamese troops during the suppression of the Lao struggle for independence. Once again, the temple was restored in the 1920s with the assistance of the French colonialists.
Temple today
A small building is surrounded by a gallery, which is decorated with Buddha statues made of bronze. Some of them date back to the VI century. The staircase is decorated with carved stone sculptures of the naga. The walls, the columns that surround the aisles, and the stairs are decorated with freakish bas-reliefs.
Inside, too, you can see a variety of Buddha statues, including a copy of the Emerald Buddha, which gave the temple a name. It was transferred to the temple by the Thai authorities in 1994.
The temple is maintained in good condition; from time to time it undergoes restoration, for which only natural materials are used. Around the building is a very beautiful French garden.
The Museum
In the temple works the Museum of Religious Art, which is also called the Buddha Museum because of the abundance of statues of the latter. Besides them, you can see various religious attributes and art objects. The museum works all week, except Sunday. Visiting it will cost 5,000 Lao Kips - this is slightly more than $ 0.6. No photography allowed.
How to get to the temple?
The temple is located on the street Setatilat, near it is Wat Sisaket . It leads to Avenu Lane Xang Street, along which from the Triumphal Arch of Patusai can be reached in 5 minutes or on foot for 20.