Laos | Wat That Luang, Luang Prabang / ຫຼວງພະບາງ (老挝琅勃拉邦 ●塔銮寺 )

Wat That Luang beside the town’s old sports ground, the "Monastery of the Royal Stupa" has long been associated with the royalty of Luang Prabang. Legend has it that Wat That Luang was originally established by Ashokan missionaries in the 3rd century BC. This open field historically was the cremation site for Lao royalty.There are two large stupas on the grounds, the golden of which reputedly contains the ashes of the popular and last crowned Laotian king, Sisivang Vong (r. 1904 -1959). The Grand Stupa, which towers over the rear of the sim, dates from 1818 and is said to contain relics of the Buddha. The Wat also contains a number of smaller stupas that contain ashes of kings, other members of the royal family and a variety of other dignitaries.

琅勃拉邦老运动场旁的这座塔銮寺早已与皇室联系在一起。传说最初是由阿育王传教士在公元前3世纪建立的。庙前的空地历史上曾是皇家火葬场。塔銮寺有两座大佛塔，其中那座金塔存放着老挝末代国王西西万冯（r.1904-1959)的骨灰。另一座大殿后面的佛塔建于1818年，据说里面有佛祖的遗物。还有一些较小的佛塔，里面有其他王室成员和各色政要名人的骨灰。