Wat Si Saket

Buddhist wat in Vientiane, Laos

Wat Si Saket (Lao: ວັດສີສະເກດ, pronounced [wāt sǐː.sā.kèːt]) is a Buddhist wat in Vientiane, Laos. It is situated on Lan Xang Road, on the corner with Setthathirat Road, to the northwest of Haw Phra Kaew, which formerly held the Emerald Buddha.^[1]

Overview

Wat Si Saket was built in 1818 on the order of King Anouvong (Sethathirath V.) Si is derived from the Sanskrit title of veneration Sri, prefixed to the name of Wat Saket in Bangkok, which was renamed by Anouvong's contemporary, King Rama I. Wat Si Saket was built in a contemporary style of Buddhist architecture at the time, with a surrounding terrace and an ornate five-tiered roof, which may have kept it safe, since the armies of Siam that sacked Vientiane following Anouvong's rebellion in 1827 used the compound as their headquarters and lodging place. It may be the oldest temple still standing in Vientiane. The French colonial government restored Wat Si Saket in 1924 and again in 1930.

Wat Si Saket features a cloister wall with more than 2,000 ceramic and silver Buddha images. The temple also houses a museum.

Gallery

Wat Si Saket
Sim
Sim
Buddha gallery
Library
Towers
Drum tower
Nāga guarding entrance
Tombs

References

^ Sregongsang, Suwaphat; King, Ross. "A study of Thailand and Laos relations through the perspective of the Vientiane Sisaket Temple and The Rattanakosin emerald Buddha temple ระดับ ปริญญาเอก". Thesis Online. Silpakorn University. pp. 1–157. Archived from the original (Ph.D.) on 25 November 2015. Retrieved 24 November 2015. Abstract The study of Thailand and Laos relations through the perspectives of Vientiane Sisaket temple and Rattanakosin Emerald Buddha is to investigate (1) the relations between Siam and Lao kingdoms in the Sukhothai period, and early Rattanakosin period (kings Rama I-III) ....