Information about the Great Golden Stupa Pha That Luang in Vientiane
PHA That Luang is a huge Buddhist Stupa of 45 meters in height and width 69 built in pyramidal shape and is surrounded in turn by 30 small stupas. The Pha That Luang stupa is covered with 500 kilos of gold leaf, precious metal that achieves such impressive golden color, symbol of the splendour of Laos.
The complex where rises the Pha That Luang Temple is surrounded by a cloister 85 meters long, cloister which houses various statues of Buddha and paintings.
The Pha That Luang stupa is built on 3 levels, which symbolize the ascent from the Earth to the sky. The first level is the underworld, the second level 30 perfections of Buddhism and the third and final level, the prelude to the Kingdom of heaven. Each level is more narrow than the previous level, for example the first level are 69 meters of width, the second level 47 meters and the last level just 29 metres.
Pha That Luang - Laos
This monument of the city of Vientiane, is considered one of the best architectural works of Buddhism around the world.
History of Pha That Luang
Temple Pha That Luang, whose literal translation means great golden stupa is a monument built in the year 1566, mandated by the King Setthathirat on the ruins of an ancient Hindu temple of the third century. The Hindu temple was built by the Khmer civilization (or Khmer civilization). According to popular belief, the temple housed a relic of Buddha (a rib to be exact) brought from India by missionaries of the Court of the Emperor Ashoka.
Pha That Luang temple in Vientiane
Great golden stupa in Vientiane
The capital of Laos was formerly the city of Luang Prabang (Xiengthong), after the victory over the Burmese, King Setthathirat armies he ordered to move the capital from Luang Prabang to Vientiane for purely strategic reasons. Arriving in Vientiane the King ordered the construction of palaces, temples and monuments, among them the Pha That Luang temple whose purpose was to make shade for the great stupa in Chiang Mai.
The great golden stupa of Pha That Luang in Vientiane it took 6 years to build.
Destruction and reconstruction of the Stupa Pha That Luang
The pride of the city of Vientiane and the national symbol, the Pha That Luang stupa, has been looted and destroyed on several occasions, indeed, whenever the city of Vientiane was invaded the stupa of Pha That Luang always was the main objective of the attacks and also one of the places where more looting suffered.
In 1828, during the invasion of the Kingdom of Siam, the Pha That Luang Temple was almost reduced to ashes (the same fate ran other temples of the city such as the) Haw Pha Kaeo Temple) but before destroying the stupa, the Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand) was commissioned to plunder the gold covering Pha That Luang, exactly the same thing happened with the so-called That Dam Black Stupa.
Great golden stupa Pha That Luang
Ravaged the area, stolen gold and virtually destroyed the city of Vientiane, the Pha That Luang stupa entirely it was abandoned. In the year 1900 the French decided to restore the great stupa Golden basandonse drawings and designs of the French Louis Delaporte architect, the works were not successful and had to be rebuilt and redesigned for the second time in the year 1930.
During the war of independence of Thailand against France in 1940, once more Pha That Luang was completely destroyed and had to wait until the end of World War II to rebuild itself.
Overview of the Pha That Luang stupa
Visit Pha That Luang Temple
The great stupa of Pha That Luang is located on the outskirts of Vientiane. The visit to Pha That Luang can be divided into 2 parts: the outer part and access to the interior of the stupa.
All spaces outside of Pha That Luang is comprised of gardens, temples / Wat, monuments, statues and a Palace. The outside area of the site is free and open access. The Palace Wat Neua Thatluang has an impressive facade, but inside there is hardly anything outstanding. Most striking are the small temples around Pha That Luang.
To access the interior of the stupa area Golden is necessary to pay entrance fee, although the price of admission is almost symbolic, many travelers opt to save that money and simply contemplate the immense stupa from the outside.
Golden Pha That Luang Stupa view from the outside
Great Stupa Pha That Luang (Vientiane, Laos)
Pha That Luang - Vientiane - Laos
Pha That Luang Temple
Visit the Inner Temple Pha That Luang
The impressive exterior and appearance of the great golden stupa of Pha That Luang cochan with the Spartan interior of the enclosure. After access to the interior of the stupa area, we can take a stroll through the cloister, contemplate the remains of sculptures and paintings, make offerings at different altars at the foot of Pha That Luang but not allowed access beyond the cloister, i.e., we can not upload to the different levels of Pha That Luang.
Inside the temple Pha That Luang
In the cloisters of the Pha That Luang stupa, we can see various sculptures and paintings. Most of these sculptures need some restoration work and remember to some extent to the cloister and Hall of the Wat Sisaket (although the Sisaket temple is more interesting in this regard).
Unrestored remains of sculptures in Pha That Luang
There are several altars at the foot of Pha That Luang. The stupa is the scene of many celebrations popular in Laos, for example the Boun That Luang festival, therefore it is quite common to find gifts and flowers decorating the Golden stupa.
Buddhist Altar inside Pha That Luang
Affairs of Pha That Luang
In the outdoor complex that Pha That Luang, we remember is free and open access, we have in addition to the great golden stupa Statue of the Sethathirath King, the King responsible for the construction of the stupa of Pha That Luang. The statue is located in the Saysettha gardens on the way to the main entrance to the interior of the stupa.
Statue of King sethathirath - Pha That Luang - Vientiane - Laos
The small park in the middle of the complex of Pha That Luang is called Saysettha gardens.
Saysettha Park - Pha That Luang - Vientiane
Around Pha That Luang what is most striking Wat Neua Thatluang a complex consisting of an impressive Palace of Thai-style and also by a small Wat located next to it.
Thatluang Wat Neua (Vientiane, Laos)
The temple Wat Neua Thatluang be seen from inside the enclosure of Pha That Luang.
Pha That Luang and Wat palace Thatluang Neua
Outside, past the car park, we have the monument to the revolution (revolution monument).
Revolution monument - Pha That Luang
Some of the Wat or temples in the vicinity of the great stupa, where the monks live and study.
Wat Pha That Luang
Opening hours and admission price to Pha That Luang
The Pha That Luang Temple is Open every day of the week in hours of from 8:00 up to the 12:00 and evenings offrom 13:00 until the 16:00.
The price of the ticket are 5,000 kip (approx. €0.5, see) Currency of Laos).
Check schedule and Pha That Luang
Video of the Stupa Pha That Luang
A video of the temple complex Pha That Luang, the great golden stupa in Vientiane. A virtual tour of the gardens Saysettha, the statue of King sethathirath, outside the temple Pha That Luang and inner of the great golden stupa Pha That Luang.
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