Wat Ho xiang was built 1705 (Sieng, Sian, Xiang, Xieng) Voravihane, the Lottery Pavilion, adjoins Wat That on a small hill to the southwest of Mount Phousi and the Hotel Phousi. As with Wat That, there is a stairway with naga guardians flowing from the site to the entry below. The wat was named in honor of a 1548 ceremony, presided over by King Setthathirat, to choose the site of the viharn of the now adjoining Wat That. Most suggest that Ho Siang was formally founded by Khouane Sene Muxa in 1705 or early 1706, though doubtless there were earlier buildings on the site.
The sim is of a simple style with a central pillarless hall and a single highly decorated doorway and surround at the front veranda. Stylized murals of Buddhist lore and punishment for evil-doers flank the entry and the side walls. There have been numerous renovations and reconstructions over the years. The first recorded major reconstruction was in 1823/4. The wat was destroyed by a storm in April 1900 and rebuilt. The octagonal pediment pillars and the verandas on the northeast and southwest sides of the sim were added in 1952. A restoration and renovation in 1973 created the octagonal pillars and gilded leaf capitals; there were also renovations in the 1990s. In mid-2005 the monastery had four monks, one nun and eighteen novices.
[google_maps id=”2920″]
