Wat Visounalat

3 years ago

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Culture-Temple

The oldest temple in Luang Prabang is Wat Visunalat. In 1512, the sanctuary was established. A significant collection of antique Buddha images can be seen in the temple. Wat Visunalat is made up of a small structure called sim and a big stupa built in the Sinhala style called Tat Pathum. The temple complex was demolished and looted by the Black Flag Army, a Chinese rebel force, when Luang Prabang was partially destroyed and looted in 1887. In 1898, the temple was repaired. The old edifice of Wat Visunalat, more magnificent and opulently ornamented than the current temple, is depicted in an engraving by Louis Delaporte, a French explorer who visited to Cambodia and Laos in the 1860s and 1970s. Massive wooden pillars 30 meters tall supported the ceiling of the original sanctuary. In 1513-1707 and 1867-1887, Wat Visunalat housed the famous Buddha Prabang image. He is now housed in the wat of Royal Palace, which has been converted into the National Museum. Sim (temple) Wat Visunalat is a brick structure with a two-story roof that is adorned with stylized nagas. The "dock with faa" - a decorative piece resembling 17 small stupas under umbrellas - is located in the center of the roof. The wooden doors on the sim come from a previous 16th century structure. Images of the Hindu gods Vishnu, Brahma, Indra, and Shiva can be found on them. Sim is home of Luang Prabang's largest Buddha statue. A great number of miniature bronze and wood Buddha figurines surround the gilt sculpture. They are almost 400 years old in certain cases. The 35-meter-high Stupa Tat Pathum was constructed around the beginning of the 16th century. It has a dome that resembles a watermelon, which is why the locals in Luang Prabang refer to it as the Watermelon Stupa. The actions of the Black Flag bandits also harmed Stupa Tat Pathum. It was destroyed because it held old Buddha images. The statues that were still in good condition have been moved to the Royal Palace. Photo by DEZALB on pixabay.com