|
 Vientiane is the capital city of Laos, situated in the Mekong Valley. It is also Laos's largest city. Vientiane is stretched out on the north-eastern bank of a bend in the Mekong River. From the river bank inland, the main roads running parallel to the river are Thanon Fa Ngum, Thanon Setthathirat and Thanon Samsenthai. The central district, Chanthabuli, contains most of Vientiane's government offices, hotels and restaurants. Vientiane's widest boulevard, Thanon Lane Xang, runs from the Presidential Palace (now used for government offices and for state receptions) to the northeast around Patuxai, the Victory Gate, towards Pha That Luang, the That Luang Stupa, the most important religious monument in Laos.
Pha That Luang (Great Stupa in Lao) is a Buddhist stupa in Vientiane, Laos. It was built in the 16th century under King Setthathirat on the ruins of an earlier 13th century Khmer temple, which the Lao believe was in turn built on a 3rd century Indian temple built by Buddhist missionaries from the Mauryan Empire who were sent by the Emperor Ashoka. Relics of The Buddha are said to be contained here.
In 1641, a Dutch envoy, Gerrit van Wuysoff, visited Vientiane and was received by King Sourigna Vongsa at the temple, which he was, reportedly, to be received in a magnificent ceremony. He wrote that he was deeply impressed by the 'enormous pyramid and the top was covered with gold leaf weighing about a thousand pounds'.
Pha That Luang was destroyed by the Thai invasion in 1828, which was heavily damaged and left abandon. A French explorer and architect came across the abandoned temple and made detailed sketches of the temple. It was not until 1900, when the French restored to its original design. The architecture of the building includes many references to Lao culture and identity, and so has become a symbol of Lao nationalism.
The area around Pha That Luang is now gated, to keep traffic out. Previously visitors could drive around the whole complex.
|
