Photo Gallery

Ho Phra Keow Temple (originally built 16th century, rebuilt 1936-42)

Ho Phra Keo (Jewel Buddha Image; Wat Phra Keo in Thai) is a former monastery and long served as royal temple of the Lao monarchs. Originally built in the 16th century by King Setthathirat, it housed the Emerald Buddha (actually carved from a type of jade). It was carried off to by the Siamese in 1779 and placed in the Bangkok temple of the same name.

The original temple was destroyed during the Siamese invasion of 1828 and rebuilt between 1936 and 1942. The main hall is impressive in size and contains excellent examples of Lao Buddhist sculpture. Although photography is not permitted inside the main hall, there are numerous scultures on the veranda.

Text by Robert D. Fiala.