Painted facade
Red and gold.
Allie Caulfield — CC BY 2.0 · Christophe95 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Christophe95 — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Christophe95 — CC BY-SA 4.0
Wat Xieng Mouane is a small Buddhist temple in the old town of Luang Prabang. A prayer hall with a steep, tiered roof trimmed in gilt stands behind a facade painted in red, green and gold around a carved, gilded door, with trees and greenery in the courtyard. It was built by Phragna Sisonxay in 1853 in the reign of King Chantharath, though the site is probably older. Its old name meant «monastery of melodious sounds», after its drum and gong, and it was later renamed «monastery of the joyous town». With support from UNESCO and New Zealand, its monks' quarters were restored as a school where young monks learn the crafts needed to keep the city's temples, such as woodcarving, casting and painting. You see the painted facade and gilded door from the courtyard, walk among the wooden buildings, and may see the young monks at work. The temple is in the old town, about 760 m in a straight line southwest of Wat Xieng Thong. It is a place of worship, so cover your shoulders and knees, take off your shoes before entering the hall, and do not point your feet at Buddha images.
Red and gold.
Carved.
Steep.
Old-town peninsula, Luang Prabang
Royal Palace, Luang PrabangHaw Kham, built in 1904 in the French era for King Sisavang Vong and his family.3 minutes walk3.9
Mount PhousiA wooded hill about a hundred metres high in the heart of Luang Prabang, crowned4 minutes walk4.2
Wat Mai SuwannaphumahamWat Mai Suwannaphumaham, known simply as Wat Mai, is the largest Buddhist temple5 minutes walk
Wat SeneWat Sene is a Buddhist temple on the main street of Luang Prabang's old town. A 6 minutes walk
Luang Prabang Night MarketEvery evening the main street in front of the Royal Palace closes to cars, long 7 minutes walk4.3Clothes covering shoulders and knees.
The old-town temples and Wat Xieng Thong.