Luang Prabang
EasternBuddhistmonasterySoutheast Asia1353 CE - present
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Location
Country
Laos
Region
Southeast Asia
Coordinates
19.8856, 102.1347
Era
1353 CE - present
Site Type
Monastery
About
A UNESCO-listed royal capital and monastic city at the confluence of the Mekong and Nam Khan rivers, home to 34 active Buddhist monasteries and the sacred Pra Bang Buddha image.
Significance
The spiritual heart of Laos and Theravada Buddhism in the Mekong region; the daily alms-giving procession (tak bat) of saffron-robed monks is one of Southeast Asia's living spiritual traditions.
History & Historical Arc
Capital of the Lane Xang kingdom from 1353; renamed Luang Prabang ('Great Sacred Image') after the Pra Bang relic image;…
Archaeological Notes
The entire town center is a protected heritage zone; Wat Xieng Thong (1560) preserves the best Lan Xang-era temple archi…
Key Features & Structures
- Wat Xieng Thong (1560)
- Royal Palace Museum / Haw Kham
Visitor Information
Open year-round; cool-season (Nov–Feb) is most pleasant. The tak bat procession occurs every morning at dawn along Sakka…
Related Figures
King Fa NgumKing Setthathirath
In the Bible
Source References
- UNESCO World Heritage List #479
- Evans, Grant. 'A Short History of Laos' (2002)