Catch a tuk tuk down its tree- lined boulevards or amble the newly developed riverfront and you will see that Vientiane is on the up. The french settled the city as a hub of Indochina, and elements of their era, you will understand why many travellers are charmed by the place. “ Top sights in Vientiane” will share top attractions in Vientiane that you need to put it in your travel pocket. Laos travel packages
Pha That Luang in Vientiane
( Great Sacred Reliquary or great Stupa, open: 8am- 12am, 1pm-4pm)
Svelte and golden Pha That Luang is the most important nantional monument in Laos, a symbol of Buddhist religion and law sovereignty. Legend has it that Ashokan missionaries from India brought a taht( stupa) here to inclose a piece of Buddha’s breastbone as early as the 3rd century BC.
A high-walled cloister with tiny windows surrounds the 45 height stupa. The cloister measures 85m on each side and contains many Buddha images. Pha That Luang is about 4km northest of the city center at the end of Th That Luang.
Pha That Luang stupa in Vientiane, Laos- en.wikipedia.org
Wat Si Saket & Haw Pha Kaew
Wat Si Saket is the oldest temple in Vientiane and well worth a visit even if you have a long temple list to visit. Wat Si Saket has several unique features. The interior walls of the cloister are riddled with niches containing more than 2000 ceramic and silver Buddha Images. More than 300 seated and standing Buddhas of varying age, size and material( wood, stone, bronze) rest on long shelves below the niches. A khmer- style Naga Buddha is also on display.
Diagronally opposite is Haw Pha Kaew, a royal temple built specifically to house the famed Emerald Buddha. Today Haw Pha Kaew is used as a national religious art museum. It has the best collection of Buddha images in Laos.
The Buddhas of Si Saket- www.123rf.com
Patuxai
Patuxai is a slightly incongruous sight, dominating the commercial district around Th Lan Xang. It is officially called “ Victory Monument”. It is a place to honor the Lao people who died in wars. It was built in 1969 with cement donated by the USA to build a new airport, hence expats refer to it as “ the vertical runway”. You can try to climb to the top for panoramic view over Vientiane.
Full view of the Patuxai- www.e-journey.biz
Lao National Museum
This French era building flanked by cherry blossom and magnolia trees was formerly known as the Lao Revolutionary Museum. Much of its collection maintains an immovable revolutionary enthusiasm. Downstairs- a potted account of Khmer culture in the south, accompanied by tools and Buddha statuary, upstairs- ponderous displays tell the story of the Pather Lao, peppered with busts of Lenin and Ho Chi Minh. Indochina travel Laos
Lao National Museum- www.greatwall.biz
Xieng Khuan( Buddha Park)
Twenty five kilometre southest of Vientiane, eccentric Xieng Khuan thrills with other- worldly Buddhist and Hindu scultures, and was designed and built in 1958 by Luang Pu, a yogi priest shaman who puts Hindu and Buddhist philosophy, mythology into a cryptic whole. The Buddha Park is a famous sculpture park with more than 200 religious statues.
Buddha Park (Xieng Khuan) in Vientianess-ource: planetandgo.com
“Top sights in Vientiane” are top attrations in Vientiane that worth to visit. Spending your travel time for these attractions, you will have closer look to this capital that steeped in history and legend. Enjoy this relaxingly laid back!
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