Luang Prabang, also known as Louangphrabang, is situated in northern Laos. It is the capital of Louangphrabang Province.

Luang Prabang is the ancient capital city of the Lan Xang Kingdom. According to the Luang Prabang legend, the first name of Luang Parabang was Muang Swa, named after King Khun Xua around the eighth century, later known as Xieng Dong and Xieng Thong. During the reign of King Fa Ngum between 1354 and 1372 A.D., Xieng Dong, and Xieng Thong cities were renamed Luang Prabang in the name of the gold image of Buddha, the Phrabang.

Luang Prabang was the capital of the Lane Xang kingdom(Kingdom of a million elephants) from 1354 A.D. as well as the Laotian religious and cultural centre. In that time, Buddhism became state religion. Luang Prabang remained the capital of the Lan Xang kingdom until 1545 when King Photisarat moved the capital to Wieng Chan (Vientiane).

Even after the Lan Xang period, Luang Prabang was considered the main source of monarchic power. It wasn't until the Pathet Lao took over in 1975 that the monarchy was finally dissolved.

It was under French rule from 1893 to 1954 and served as the royal capital (Vientiane being the administrative capital) of Laos from 1950 to 1975, when the country became a republic.

In December 1995, the entire town of Luang Prabang was inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, ranking it alongside architectural treasures like Angkor Wat or the Taj Mahal. The UNESCO report identified 33 temples and 111 historic Lao-French buildings for specific restoration, citing Luang Prabang as the best-preserved traditional town in Southeast Asia--a kind of outdoor museum. Luang Prabang’s natural and cultural beauty are well-preserved because of the town’s isolation-although it flourished as a trading outpost among the peoples of upper Laos, Thailand, Vietnam, southern China and Burma, there was little contact with non-Asian countries until the French arrived in the mid-19^th century.

A port on the Mekong River, Luang Prabang is a trade centre for rice, rubber, and teak and has handicrafts industries.

© COPYRIGHT 2000-2001 - ASIATRAVELLING.NET