Situated across the Palais Presidentiel along Lan Xang and Setthathirat Road,the oldest Wat in Vientiane is easily filled up with guests. Bus loads of tourists alighted at Wat Sisaket during my visit in January 2015.
There is an entrance fee to the wat for 5,000 kip (if I remember correctly). Visitors are free to take pictures in the garden within the courtyard, but not inside the main temple or the ordination hall.
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| Tourists and tour guide on the way to the courtyard, after paying the admission fee |
Wat Sisaket was built in the early 1800s. At the entrance is a garden, golden Buddha statues, and the drum tower.
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| The cleaner, at the wat's garden |
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| The golden Buddhas |
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| The drum tower, with Nagas guarding its stairway |
Upon entry in the courtyard, there is the temple or the ordination hall. Those who enter the temple must leave their shoes or slippers outside. The temple is surrounded by the courtyard galleries which house thousands of seated and standing Budhha statues, of all sizes and made of wood, silver, bronze and ceramics.
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| The temple or the ordination hall in the middle of the courtyard |
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| The courtyard galleries |
Wat Sisaket is also a monastery. There were a number of novice monks roaming around - cleaning, pushing carts, preparing offerings, talking and laughing. Young as they are, I cannot help but wonder if a monastery is a good enough place for these young children to grow up?
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