LAOS: UNESCO City of Luang Prabang

Luang Prabang is the former capital of the country and Laos’s best-preserved historic town.

Situated in the north of Laos it is surrounded by mountains and on the sacred confluence of the Nam Khan River and the Mekong River.

Translated directly it is the "city of the Golden Buddha Phra Bang".

It has a French colonial past, which is evident in the town’s architecture and culture. 

It is a religious centre with 33 gilded wats (temples).

It is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its exceptional preservation of cultural, religious, and architectural heritage.

 

The Royal Palace Museum of Luang Prabang once served as the residence of King Sisavang Vong and his family during the French colonial era (1887 - 1945). 

It is a combination of the French Beaux-Arts style with many accents of traditional Lao culture. 

The palace was converted into a museum in 1995.

The royal quarters have been preserved and offer a glimpse into the lifestyle of the king and his family. In the mirrored Throne Hall, you can see the crown jewels of Laos. No photos were allowed inside, but, surprisingly, the palace and furnishings were very simple.

On the museum grounds of the former Royal Palace is a temple called Haw Pha Bang (Haw Prabang).

Inside the temple is the Phra Bang statue of the Buddha. It is fairly small (only 83cm / 33 inches tall), cast in gold, and is an incredibly significant artifact in the town’s history and culture.

Another temple, Wat Xieng Thong is one of the largest temples in Luang Prabang. 

A symbol of great historic importance, its structure has characteristics of 16th-century Lao architecture, with elaborate mosaic patterns, wall carvings and rare Buddhist deities.

Wat Xieng Thong once oversaw the coronation of Lao kings – today, it is an important gathering place for significant annual festivities in Luang Prabang.

The temple has a 2-tiered roof and ornate mosaics, including a ‘tree of life’ glass montage on the rear temple wall. 

Our guide told us he came to the temple as a 13 year old and studied for 6 years. He came from a poor farming family in the mountains and it was a way for him to get an education. He is very grateful for that opportunity. 

On the grounds is also the Hohng Kep Mien. 

It has lavish gilt work.

It stores a 12-meter-tall ceremonial funeral carriage with red-tongued naga (river serpents). 

The carriage was designed to carry the golden funeral urns of Lao royalty. 

The walls and entrance are covered in lacquering.

 Luang Prabang was once a prominent city and home to the King, but, the city fell into decline in the latter half of the 20th century when the French reluctantly left the country, and then, the 1975 revolution brought an end to the Luang Prabang monarchy. 

The reopening of Laos to tourism in 1989 has created a turnaround in the city's fortunes as it is now a popular tourist destination in Laos.