Wat Mai was founded in the late 18th century by King Anourout and was the temple for the royal family as well as the home of the highest Laotian Buddhist dignitary called Pra Sangkharat. Also called The New Monastery, it used to house the 50 foot gilded Prabang Buddha statue before it was moved into the Royal Palace Museum nearby. Today, this golden Buddha sits at the altar surrounded by Corinthian columns and a red interior.
