That Dam Stupa — Attraction in Vientiane Capital

Le That Dam (16ème S. ?) Nom : Le stupa noir. Particularités : Ce Stupa noir occupe le centre d'une petite place. Un Stupa est censé contenir une relique, ce qui ne semble pas être le cas de celui-ci. La date de son édification n'est pas clairement déterminée, mais on parle du seizième siècle. Ce flou historique le pare d'un voile de mystère. Son côté délaissé, la rareté des offrandes sur ses rebords témoignent du peu de ferveur dont il fait l'objet. Il faut dire que sa fonction était de protéger la ville grâce au dragon à sept têtes dont il est le gardien. Sa présence n'ayant pas empêché les invasions, les Siamois ayant poussé le vice jusqu'à voler les feuilles d'or le recouvrant en 1827, il a perdu les faveurs de la population locale, sans pour autant être réduit en poussière. Superstition oblige ! Paradoxalement, tout son charme vient de son abandon : la végétation qui pousse ça et là entre la pierre noire de moisissures tranchant avec les façades de magasins de spiritueux et la route goudronnée modernes qui l'entourent. Cet anachronisme au cœur de la capitale vous plongera dans un autre âge.

The That Dam (C. 16th?) Name: Black stupa. Special features: The Black Stupa occupies the center of a small square. A Stupa is said to contain a relic, which does not seem to be the case with this one. The date of its construction is not clearly determined, but one speaks of the sixteenth century. This historic blur the windshield of a veil of mystery. His neglected side, scarcity of offerings on its edges testify to the little fervor which he is subject. It must be said that its function was to protect the city thanks to the seven-headed dragon which he is the guardian. His presence did not stop the invasions, Siamese having pushed up the vice steal the gold leaf covering it in 1827, he lost the favor of the local population, without being reduced to dust. Superstition oblige! Paradoxically, its charm comes from its abandonment: vegetation that grows here and there between the black stone cutting mold with spirits store fronts and modern paved road that surround it. This anachronism in the heart of the capital, plunge you into...

That Dam Stupa - also known as the Black Stupa - stands mightily at the roundabout near the major city centre of Vientiane. Legend has it that a seven-headed serpent/naga protected the city from the city from destruction.

The stupa itself is free to visit. The whole structure is quite enigmatic, but it is quite an impressionable landmark. It is simply a very small, circular park with some seating. However, it is not exactly a place for one to relax given the heavy traffic around the area - you may end up smelling the car exhaust instead. On a bright sunny day, it is not a place where one will sit too, since it’s too hot and...

The Black Stupa (That Dam) in Laos is believed to be home to a mythical seven-headed Naga (serpent), a powerful spiritual guardian in Lao beliefs that date back over 2,000 years. Locals believe this NAGA protected the stupa from destruction during invasions by Siamese and French forces. Lao people often consider themselves descendants of the Naga. Meanwhile, the elephant is revered as a sacred symbol of Laos—once known as the “Land of a Million Elephants”—and is commonly depicted in temple decorations. I visited at late afternoon and enjoyed...