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.