The visit to the Buddhist Archive of Photography at Vat Souvannakhili opens a unique window on the essence of Luang Prabang’s Buddhism, and into the history of Lao photography.
The unique collection of 35.000 photographs taken by the monks of Luang Prabang over more than 120 years survived miraculously over time, and has been digitized in a joint project with the British Library’s Endangered Archives Programme since 2006. Its inscription on UNESCO’s list Memory of the World is under way.
Organisation of a 1-hour private visit.
You will be welcomed either by artist Hans Georg Berger, the Archive’s founder, or by Dr. Khamvone Boulyaphonh, the Director of the Buddhist Archives, a former monk at Vat Saen Sukharam. The visit lasts about one hour.
Mr Berger or Dr Khamvone will give you unique access to selected original photographs, and will personally guide you. This is a very special and meaningful way to learn about the Buddhist civilisation and heritage of Laos. Sala Thammavihan is a small architectural jewel of the town, a monastic building of the 1930s in a charming art déco style.
At its end, we will offer a cup of monastic tea at the verandah of historic Sala Thammavihan, at Vat Souvannakhili, where the Archives are housed.
Your donation helps the Buddhist Archives to continue its research.
Price for a group up to 6 persons: USD 200 (+30usd /pers. up to 20)
Appointing visits : 10:00 to 11.30, 14:00 to 15:30
The Buddhist Archives of Luang Prabang is a non-for-profit-organization of the Buddhist Sangha of Luang Prabang and does not have financial support from the government so far.
