Located on the site where the Khmer
Buddhist mission was first established during the reign of Fa Ngum, Wat Manorom was
founded in 1372 by Sam Sen Tai, the son of Fa Ngum. One of the oldest sanctuaries in
Luang prabang, like many wats in this ancient capital, it was previously destroyed and the
existing Sim was constructed more recently in 1972. Wat Manorom houses the largest
and oldest bronze image of the Buddha in Laos, thought to have been cast in 1372 by Khmer
craftsmen in the Sukothai bronze tradition. Elements of Wat Kang can still be seen
behind the Sim. |