description Pha That Sikhottabong Overview
Pha That Sikhottabong is a historically significant Buddhist stupa located on the banks of the Mekong River in Khammouane Province, Laos. According to local tradition, the site was originally established in the 6th century, though the current structure reflects restorations conducted during the 16th-century Lan Xang Kingdom. The monument is highly venerated for reportedly housing a bone relic of the historical Buddha, making it an important pilgrimage destination. The stupa is also the focal point of an annual religious festival that draws thousands of Lao worshippers.
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What relic is Pha That Sikhottabong believed to contain?
Lao Buddhist tradition holds that the stupa enshrines sacred bone relics of the historical Buddha. It belongs to a regional group of revered relic monuments associated with That Phanom in Thailand and That Ing Hang in Savannakhet.
Where is Pha That Sikhottabong in relation to Thakhek?
The monument stands beside the Mekong River several kilometres south of central Thakhek in Khammouane Province. Its riverside setting also places it close to the modern border between Laos and Thailand.
When does the Sikhottabong Stupa Festival take place?
The annual festival is held around the full moon of the third month in the Lao lunar calendar, usually in February. Activities commonly include alms offerings, prayers, a candlelight procession, markets, and traditional sports.
Is the present Pha That Sikhottabong entirely a 16th-century structure?
The sacred site is older, but the monument was substantially rebuilt or refurbished during the reign of King Setthathirath in the 16th century. Its present form rises to roughly 29 metres and has a distinctive banana-flower-shaped pinnacle.
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