A national symbol

The symbol of the Lao nation, Pha That Luang

Perhaps the most recognizable monument in Laos is Pha That Luang, the 45m tall elongated golden lotus bud that can be seen on the national seal, Lao money and countless other places. It resides in the capital Vientiane and was originally a stupa built in the 3rd century to house a piece of Buddha's breastbone. It's been rebuilt numerous times since then, at least twice by the French and was regilded in 1995 to celebrate the Lao PDR's 20th anniversary. It's official name is Pha Chedi Lokajulamani and was erected in its current form - the tall tapered central stupa has a brick core that has been stuccoed over - by King Setthathirat in the mid-16th century, on the site of a former Khmer monastery. Closeby are two wats, That Luang Neua and That Luang Tait, the former being the residence of the main Buddhist hierachy. It draws big crowds every day and the statue standing in front of the stupa is its founder, King Setthathirat, the Lao-Jayavarman VII of his day, who despite seeing off the Burmese, was murdered at the tender age of 38, whilst fighting an ill-fated war with Cambodia.

The Pha That Luang stupa looking down from the wide Th That Luang boulevard

A memorial to the stupa's founder, King Setthathirat

The Lao-Jayavarman VII of his day, King Setthathirat

The admission gate to Tha That Luang

An imposing sight against the beautiful blue and white sky

A praying figure on a gate leading to the inner enclosure of the stupa