Meun Na Temple, Luang Prabang

Meun Na Temple is a 19th Century Temple located near the Nam Khan River in Luang Prabang, Laos.

Meun Na Temple is open during daylight hours and entrance is free.

About Meun Na Temple

Meun Na Temple is a small working Buddhist temple with a well maintaining congregation hall, or sim as it is referred to in the Laos language.

The roof of the sim at Meun Na Temple is built in the Thai style, rather than the the curved style of roof commonly associated with the classical Laotian temple epitomised by the main temple building at Wat Xieng Thong.

The gold stencil work on the front of the congregation hall at Meun Na Temple is, however, a uniquely Laotian feature. Visitors to Luang Prabang will be amazed at the art work which adorns even lesser known and smaller temples such as Vat Men Na.

The most interesting feature of Meun Na Temple is the main entrance to the sim. The ornate wooden door and architrave around the door features elaborate gold relief work. Around the door and covering the entirety of the front wall of the sim are painting depicting scenes from the Phra Lak Phra Ram, which is the Laotian version of the Indian epic the Ramayana, and scenes from the story of the life of the Lord Buddha taken from the Tripitaka, which are Buddhist texts dating back to around 500 BC.

Around the grounds of Meun Na Temple there are lots of statues, each with their own meaning. The temple has a series of golden monkey statues each with a proverb relating to Buddhist belief. Some the proverbs have been translated into English.

Meun Na Temple also has small statues with characters from Buddhist mythology. The statue on the left is of Phra Mae Thorani, the earth deity who features in the story of the enlightenment of the Lord Buddha, and the statue on the right is Chalunsi, a character from the Phra Lak Phra Ram.

Location of Meun Na Temple

Meun Na Temple is located on the Phetsarat Road on the west side of the Old Bridge in Luang Prabang.

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