Discovering the old town of Luang Prabang is considered one of the most interesting things to do in Laos. The city is an ancient town which is a cluster of about 33 Buddhist temples and many old structures. Thanks to its ancientness and historical values, the city has been recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Mentioning famous temples in Luang Prabang, Wat Sene is a prominence which is known as the oldest temple in the town, maintaining a lot of unique structures.
History of Wat Sene
Wat Sene Souk Haram, also called Wat Sen is a Buddhist temple located in the heart of the ancient town. It is famous for the name “Temple of a 100,000 treasures” and its ancientness. The Wat Sene Temple was constructed in 1718 under the mandate of King Kitsarath with 100,000 stones from the Mekong River. The name has been dubbed from then. Wat Sene was once restored in the year 1957 commemorating the Buddha’s birthday dating back to 2500 years ago. Now, the temple was named as one of the best places to visit in Luang Prabang.
Explore the oldest Wat Sene Temple in a Luang Prabang travel
Wat Sene was built up of a temple, a stupa, many koutis, a pirogue shelter, and a drum tower. This is the first monastery in the town whose vihan was covered with golden and red tiles, following the modern style of the Thai.
The façade and doors of the temple are heavily gilded and every detail of the walls and columns is covered with stenciled balusters. Wat Sene is truly a masterpiece of Buddhist architecture with the harmony of human-made structures and natural landscapes in a complex.
Together with Wat Xieng Thong, Pha That Luang, and Wat Sisaket, The renowned Wat Sene Souk Haram is truly a pride of Buddhists in the country, as well as a should-not-missed attraction in a Laos travel.
More information:
Location: in the central of Luang Prabang ancient town, Laos
