Wat Nong Sikhounmuang is a famous temple which was built in 1729. It was only rebuilt in 1804, after going down on a fire in 1774. It is said to also have Thai influence in its design, hence it looks like the temples in Bangkok, with red-orange tiles and all.
The Wat was devoid of any visitors except for us, and a monk came to see who we were and what we wanted... It was quite awkward to come in to an empty temple, but we were very curious on what this temple has inside.
Inside Wat Nong Sikhounmuang is a bronze statue, Pra Chao Ong Saensaksid, which was the only "survivor" of the fire of 1774.
Inside looking out, we saw beautiful carvings on the temple doors:
We only whispered inside, so as not to disturb the monks from their daily rituals. In this photo, a monk was so engrossed with a book, reading in deep concentration:
The most beautiful temple in Laos was not so far from where we were, so we decided to walk even in the heat of the midday sun. We chanced upon houses whose means of livelihood were selling rice cakes. These are left out to dry under the sun and are a very common snack sold in the market.
We finally arrived at Wat Xieng Thong -- Luang Prabang's most magnificent temple, and heralded as the most beautiful in Laos.
Tickets cost 20,000kip each.
Wat Xieng Thong is quite a large compound, so we took our time walking around the chapels inside.
At first glance, one of the structures called the Red Chapel was gleaming under the sunlight. Upon closer inspection, it was actually one of the glass mosaics which can be found in Wat Xieng Thong. This one depicts rural scenes:
This gold, gleaming house contains the funerary chariot of King Sisavongvang.
The carvings in this chapel were very elaborate, and were also GOLD just like its exterior:
On the funerary chariot can be found the king's, queen's, and the king's brother's caskets... Creepy!!! These are actually only replicas.
There were many standing buddha images inside, some already leaning on the other images, since their feet/base were already broken. More mosaics can be found at the buddhas' background.
On the other side is the "sim" or chapel of the Wat Xieng Thong buddha. The most intricate of inlays and designs can be found here:
The serene Wat Xieng Thong Buddha, housed in a beautiful chapel with the sun casting a light on it. Beautiful maroon and gold inlays adorn the surroundings of the Xieng Thong buddha.
Before exiting the temple grounds, I knelt down and said a little prayer to this buddha with both of its palms outwards. If I'm not mistaken buddhas with palms facing outward denote fearlessness.
It's actually a very small chapel containing this image, you have to be kneeling in order to enter it.
:)
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