Description of the attraction
Wat Visunalat is the oldest temple in Luang Prabang. The sanctuary, also known as Wat Visun and Wat Visunnarat, was founded in 1512. The temple houses a valuable collection of ancient Buddha images. Wat Visunalat consists of sim, as the temple itself is called, a simple structure, and Tat Pathum, a large stupa erected in the Sinhala style.
The temple complex burned down in 1887 when Luang Prabang was partially destroyed and looted by the Black Flag Army, a rebel group from China. The temple was restored in 1898.
An engraving by Louis Delaporte, a French explorer who traveled to Cambodia and Laos in the 1860s and 70s, shows the previous building of Wat Visunalata, more elegant and opulently decorated than the current temple. The roof of the old sanctuary was supported by massive wooden pillars 30 meters high.
The revered image of Buddha Prabang in Laos was at Wat Visunalat in 1513-1707 and 1867-1887. It is now housed in the Royal Palace, which has been converted into the National Museum.
Sim (temple) Wat Visunalata is a brick building with a two-level roof, decorated with stylized images of nagas. In the center of the roof you can see the "dock with faa" - a decorative element, which is 17 miniature stupas under umbrellas. The sim's wooden doors are from a previous 16th century building. They are gilded and carved. On them you can see the images of the Hindu gods Vishnu, Brahma, Indra and Shiva.
Sim contains the largest Buddha statue in Luang Prabang. Around the gilded sculpture is a large number of small figures of Buddhas made of bronze and wood. Some of them are over 400 years old.
The stupa Tat Pathum, 35 meters high, was built at the beginning of the 16th century. It is crowned with a dome that resembles a watermelon, so the inhabitants of Luang Prabang often call this stupa Watermelon. Stupa Tat Pathum also suffered from the actions of the Black Flag bandits. It contained ancient images of Buddhas that were stolen. Those statues that remained intact have now been transferred to the Royal Palace.
