If you prefer a peaceful place, no skyscrapers, no bustling commercial areas, no spacious boulevards but the calmness, quiet of the idyllic life with green parks, the paths of monks, the pagoda roof hidden behind the trees instead, That Luang will make you satisfied. That Luang (Pha That Luang) is Buddhism symbol as well the sovereignty in Laos. This is the most special and important structure of Laos.
That Luang is a very famous Buddhist structure in Vientiane, Laos.
It was built in 1566 under the reign of King Setthathilat based on the form of a wine bottle, on the ruins of an ancient Indian Temple in the 13th century.
Later, the pagoda was destroyed because of the invasion of Thais in the 19th century. Until the 30s of the 20th century, the French built the pagoda according to the original architecture with a height of 45m. The in front statue is King Setthathilat – the founder.
That Luang is the ancient temple with a square base and a height of 45m. The center with the base is a golden lotus blooming towards four sides. On the lotus there is a square base.
The structure of That Luang and harmonious decoration create a unique architecture for this tower, bearing sharply Lao style. The towering top of That Luang doesn’t make it integral but make it harmonious with the central area, creating a complete overall.
The temple is surrounded by a brilliant halo, looks like a flower.
The tower has three levels; each level has a Buddhism teaching meaning. The surrounding of the tower is a gate and walls with the unique works of art on them.
Pha That Luang is regarded as a distinctive religious cultural structure, is the symbol of wisdom and creativity.
