Haw Pha Kaeo/Haw Pha Kaew, A Sanctuary of Serene Grandeur and Artistic Heritage

Setthathirath Road, next to the Presidential Palace in the foreigner's street

The architecture of Jade Buddha Temple is very exquisite

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Introduction

Pha That Luang Temple is one of the oldest Buddhist temples in Laos. It was originally built during the royal period of the Lan Xang Kingdom to protect the jade Buddha brought from Luang Prabang. The temple is famous for its jade Buddha, although the actual statue was looted by Siamese invaders in 1828 and is now housed in the Jade Buddha Temple in Thailand. The jade Buddha resided in Laos for 218 years. The main hall of the temple, reconstructed in 1942, still has a magnificent exterior, with tall columns forming the corridors and numerous Buddha statues inside. The main hall's door is intricately carved in Rococo style, and the walls feature numerous Buddhist story reliefs. The main hall displays many precious artifacts, such as the gold royal throne, Khmer statues, various sizes of gold, jade, crystal Buddha statues, as well as wooden carvings and door decorations. Despite the passage of time, Pha That Luang Temple still commands reverence.