Centrally located on Sisavangvong Road and an important site during the annual Pimai Lao festival, Wat Mai is one of Luang Prabang’s most photographed temples.
-
Ad Book a cooking class in Luang Prabang and
learn to cook your favourite dishes.
Founded at the end of the 18th century, construction, additions and expansions of this temple beside the Royal Palace meant it wasn’t finished until the late 1890s (the temple was spared during the Black Flag attack).
Not much has changed. Photo: Cindy Fan
Further structures were added to the compound through the 20th century, with the latest renovations completed in the early 1960s. The sim is the highlight, with its five-tiered roof extending protection over the spectacular gilded bas relief depicting scenes from the Ramayana and the life story of the Buddha.
Wat Mai once housed Luang Prabang’s most valuable artefact, the Phra Bang: an 83-centimetre tall, 50-kilogram, mostly golden Buddha statue. In 1947 it was shifted to the Royal Palace Museum (or duplicated, with the original shifted to a vault in Vientiane or Moscow, depending on your penchant for conspiracies).
Best visited without the crowds. Photo: Cindy Fan
Every year during the Pimai Lao festival, the Phra Bang is carried from the museum to Wat Mai, ceremonially washed and displayed out front for three days. Otherwise, a different large golden Buddha sits on an altar ... please log in to read the rest of this story.
Don’t miss the boat!
Please subscribe to Travelfish.org to read the rest of this article, or log in here.
Subscribing to Travelfish costs A$35 per year and it gets you access to more than 200 downloadable guides to specific destinations, fabulous discount coupons and 50% off our personalised travel planning service. Sign up here.
By
Cindy Fan.
Last updated on 27th November, 2018.
Popular hotels in Luang Prabang on Agoda
(7 reviews)
(297 reviews)
(629 reviews)
(128 reviews)
(38 reviews)
Location map for Wat Mai
Start planning your holiday today
Sent every Monday, our newsletter is full of travel advice, news & special deals. Read past issues.
Popular attractions in Luang Prabang
A selection of some of our favourite sights and activities around Luang Prabang.
What next?
Browse our independent reviews of places to stay in and around Luang Prabang.
Check prices, availability & reviews on Agoda or Booking
Read up on where to eat on Luang Prabang.
Check out our listings of things to do in and around Luang Prabang.
Read up on how to get to Luang Prabang.
Do you have travel insurance yet? If not, find out why you need it.
Planning on riding a scooter in Luang Prabang? Please read this.
Browse the web securely while travelling with TunnelBear. Try with a 7–day free trial.