Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham
Large sim with intricate gilded stucco bas reliefs
The impressive Wat Mai Suwannaphumaham is one of Luang Prabang’s largest and most richly decorated temples. Both its interior and exterior are extensively adorned with black and red lacquer decoration and gold leaf.
Temple for the Royals
The temple, also known as Wat Mai, meaning “new temple” was founded around 1780 by King Anurat of the Luang Prabang Kingdom. Located next to the Royal Palace, the Wat Mai was the temple used by Laos Royalty. It is one of the few temples that survived the destruction by Chinese invaders in 1887.
In 1821 a veranda was added at the front and at the back of the sim. Over the following decades several other buildings were added.
Home of the Phra Bang Buddha image
After much of Luang Prabang and most of its temples were destroyed by Chinese invaders in 1887 the Wat Mai, which was spared the destruction, became the new home of the Phra Bang Buddha image. The Phra Bang, Laos’ most highly venerated Buddha image, stayed there until halfway the 20th century, when it was moved to its current location in the Royal Palace Museum. During Laos new year celebrations the image is brought in procession to the Wat Mai temple for ceremonial cleansing.
The sim
The Wat Mai’s most impressive structure is the sim.
Five tiered roof
Its five tiered roof extending almost to the ground is adorned with golden Naga finials. At the center of the highest tier is a “Dok so faa” consisting of three golden parasols.
Gilded stucco bas reliefs
On either side of the sim is a veranda, the main one being particularly beautiful. Its façade contains very intricate gilded stucco bas reliefs made in the 1960’s. The reliefs depict scenes from the Ramayana and the Jatakas and scenes of every day life in Luang Prabang with temples, animals, houses, festivities and dancing women.
The veranda’s roof is supported by large black and gold stencilled columns topped with capitals in the shape of lotus leafs. The sim’s doors are decorated with gilded carvings of deities and flower motifs.
Principal Buddha image
The sim houses the Wat Mai’s principal Buddha image, a large gilded seated Buddha image in the meditation position. It is surrounded by a large number of smaller images in various mudras.
The Emerald Buddha
A shrine houses an emerald Buddha image. The original, the most highly venerated Buddha image in Thailand, is enshrined in the Wat Phra Kaew temple on the grounds of the Grand Palace in Bangkok.
Photos in the sim portray Phra Sangkharat, the highest dignitary of Laotian Buddhism who resided in the temple at the end of the 19th century.
Other structures on the grounds
Other structures on the temple grounds include a slender stupa, two small stone chapels, a drum tower and a library building where Buddhist scriptures are kept. The Wat Mai is an active temple; the resident monks live in the kuti, the monks living quarters.
A boat house stores several long, slender racing boats used during the Luang Prabang boat racing festival.
Location
The Wat Mai is located on Sisavangvong road in Luang Prabang next to the Royal Palace Museum.
How to get to there
It can be reached on foot from many of the town’s attractions. A ride by tuk tuk or jumbo will cost between 10,000 and 15,000 Kip, depending on bargaining skills and distance.
Opening hours
Opening hours are from 8 am until 5 pm daily.
Entrance fee
Entrance fee is 10,000 Kip (US$ 1.30) per person.
Temples in Luang Prabang
Luang Prabang Temples
Other attractions Luang Prabang