|
Wat Mai
LAOS, Luang Prabang
Wat Mai means New Temple. Formally known as Wat Mai Suwannaphummaham (New Temple of the Golden Land), it was built by King Anourouth (reigned 1791-1817) in 1796. It was the residence of the Songharaja during the Luang Phrabang Kingdom (circa 1707-1949). It was rebuilt by King Manthathourat (reigned 1817-1836) in 1821 and underwent further major restorations in the 20th century.
The ordination hall is the main building of the temple. The hall is built on a high base platform, with a portico at the front and a white structure at the rear, both with their own single-tier gable roofs. The enormous hip-and-gable roof of the main structure has five-tier eaves, in typical Lao style. The hips and the ridge are decorated with nagas and garudas and in the center of the ridge there is a stupa-like ornament.
The colonnade in the front portico is elaborately decorated with the wall, doors, ceiling, and columns being gilded. The ceiling is decorated with intricate gilded motifs on a red background and is supported by 12 black stone columns, which are gilded using stenciling. The well-known reliefs on the facade illustrate scenes from the Ramayana and the Vessantara Jataka. |
