Laos: Vientiane - Wat Si Saket

Historically, Vientiane has had more than its fair share of invasions, rebellions, wholesale destruction and foreign subjugation. Yet despite this, there are still a number of interesting places to visit. During the limited time I had here, I concentrated my attentions on only three of the countless dozens of Buddhist Temples to be found located throughout the city.

My first stop was to Wat Si Saket, built between 1819 and 1824 by Prince Chao Anou, the ruler of Vientiane at the time. It is believed to be the oldest surviving temple in Vientiane.
Prince Chao Anou had been educated at the Siamese Court and, thus, Wat Si Sakat was constructed in the 'early Bangkok' style and surrounded by a walled Cloister, similar to that which surrounds Pha That Luang. Today this beautiful Temple is both a place of worship and a national museum.....

 

Main Entrance Gate to Wat Si Saket

 

The 'Bangkok-style' Ordination Hall

 

The colonnade enclosing the Ordination Hall

 

Part of the thick-walled Cloister that surrounds the Inner Courtyard

 

Numerous Buddha images line the Cloister

 

The Cloister walls are full of tiny niches containing over

2000 silver and ceramic Buddha images

Beyond the cloistered walls housing the Ordination Hall is the working Temple - 

 

This is the raised 'Haw Tai' or Tripitaka Library

close to the main entrance and built partly upon the

exterior walls of the temple Complex.

The Buddhist scriptures that were once housed in here

are now in Bangkok

An old stupa close to the 'working' temple

  

Monk cells........