Patuxai
| Patuxai Patuxay | |
|---|---|
 Patuxai | |
  Location within Laos | |
| Former names | Anousavary |
| General information | |
| Type | War Memorial |
| Architectural style | Laotian |
| Location | Vientiane, Laos |
| Address | Lang Xang Avenue |
| Construction started | 1957 |
| Completed | 1968 |
| Inaugurated | 2010 (450th anniversary of Vientiane as capital of Laos) |
| Cost | 63 million kips |
| Client | Laos |
| Owner | Government of Laos |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Concrete |
| Floor count | Seven |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Mr. Tham Sayasthsena |
Patuxai (Lao: ປະຕູໄຊ, literally meaning Victory Gate or Gate of Triumph, formerly the Anousavary or Anosavari Monument) is a war monument in the centre of Vientiane, Laos, which was built between 1957 and 1968. Patuxai is dedicated to those who fought in the struggle for independence from France. In romanising the name from the Laotian language, it is variously transliterated as Patuxai, Patuxay, Patousai and Patusai. It is also given the name of Patuxai Arch or the Asian version of Arc de Triomphe of Vientiane as it has general resemblance to the Arc de Triomphe in Paris; however, it is typically Laotian in design, decorated with many Buddhist mythological figurines such as of kinnari (half-female, half-bird figures).[1][2] [3][4][5][6]
History
Patuxai is a compound word where ‘Patuu’ or ‘patu’ means “door” or “gateway” or “gate” and ‘Xai’, a derivative of the Sanskrit word ‘Jaya’, which means “victory” that form the word “Victory gate”.[3][7] Patuxai was built during the turbulent history of Laos. The monument was known as "Anousavali" (literal meaning "memory") when the monument was built after World War II in memory of the Laotian soldiers who died in various wars, and during independence from France in 1949, which was an era of the monarchy in the country.
The monument was built using American funds and in the 1960s cement actually originally intended to build an airfield during the Vietnam War was used in the structure.[8] The United States had given Laos money to build a new city airport. However, the Laotian government of the day used the money to build the monument instead. As a consequence, the monument is sometimes referred to as the "vertical runway".[3][4]
The monument was designed by the architect Mr. Tham Sayasthsena, a Laotian citizen. In 1957, the plans submitted by Sayasthsena to build the monument to the Royal Palace office in Luang Prabang Province were selected out of the many designs submitted by the Public Works Department, the Military Engineering Department, and many private architects. He was given a fee of 30,000 kips for the design. The original cost of building the monument, which was started in 1957, was estimated as 63 million kips.[1]
In 1975, with the Pathet Lao taking the reins of power in Laos, the name of the monument was changed to Patuxai, to mean “victory gate”.[6][7][9]
Geography
Patuxai is strategically built at the end of the grand Lang Xang Avenue in the heart of the Vientiane city. Lang Xang Avenue (which runs from Herkam palace to the That Luang Stupa) is also called "the Champs Elysees of Vientiane" as the Patuxai, a counterpart of the Arc de Triomphe, is situated at the end of this road. A well laid out park, known as Patuxay Park, with musical fountains surrounds the monument.[1][3][4]
Architecture
The monument has five towers that represent the five principles of coexistence among nations of the world. They are also representative of the five Buddhist principles of “thoughtful amiability, flexibility, honesty, honour and prosperity”.[1] In a distant view, even though the monument looks much like its French counterpart, from a closer distance, it looks even less impressive, like a monster of concrete.[10]
The monument, as built, has gateways on four sides oriented towards the four cardinal directions. The East-West gateways open to the Long Xang Avenue, which is used during ceremonial national parades. In front of each gate, there is a pond. The four ponds represent the open section of a lotus flower (representing reverence of Laotians to the brave warriors of the nation). The four corners of the gateways are adorned by statues of a Naga King (mythical symbol of Laos), with a depiction signifying spraying of a jet of water (suggesting nature, fertility, welfare and happiness) into the ponds on the ground.[1] Two concrete staircases wind up from inside the main structure, passing through each floor, right up to the top of the monument. Viewing galleries are provided on the upper floors. The first floor has mainly the offices of the management of the monument; the kiosks dealing with tourist paraphernalia (artefacts, souvenirs and refreshments) are also housed on this floor. The second floor is an important area where a museum is housed, displaying statues and pictures of the iconic heroes and heroines of the country.
The next level is an open space where four towers are built at the four corners. These towers have been decorated with frescoes of foliage. The towers are also fitted with electric lights, which are switched on during the national day and other important festivals. The small towers, with temple like ornamentation, are designed in the Laotian style and are provided with spires. Each tower has a stairway. Apart from the four corner towers, there is another central larger tower above this floor, which also has a staircase which leads to the top floor that has the viewing platform from where a panoramic view of Vientiane could be seen. A telescope is also fitted at that level to get a view of the city. Plans have been drawn to fit lifts from two diagonal corners of the monument, which are expected to be ready in 2010 when the 450th anniversary of Vientiane as the capital of Laos will be celebrated. On this occasion, the entire monument is proposed to be decorated with flowers and illuminated.[1] The monumental building is not fully finished to this day, although the Laotian government have repeatedly authorized new funds.[8]
The musical fountain system fitted in the newly developed elegant garden was donated by the Chinese. It is a popular feature for visitors and local people who visit the monuments in the afternoons.[10]
References
- ^ a b c d e f "Patuxay Monument Revisited". Vientiane Times. 2009-11-02. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ Atiyah, Jeremy (2002). Rough guide to Southeast Asia. Rough Guides. p. 565. ISBN 1858288932. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - ^ a b c d "Patuxay Arch in Vientiane Laos". Lonely Planet. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ a b c To Asia with love: a connoisseurs' guide to Cambodia, Laos, Thailand & Vietnam. Things Asian Press. 2005. pp. 65–67. ISBN 0971594031. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
{{cite book}}:|first=missing|last=(help); Text "last+fay" ignored (help) - ^ "Patuxay Monument is expected to draw big crowds". Laos Voices. 2009-08-08. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ a b Frommer's Cambodia & Laos. Frommer's. 2010. pp. 230–232. ISBN 0470497785. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
{{cite book}}:|first=missing|last=(help); Unknown parameter|lst=ignored (help) - ^ a b "Patuxay In Vientiane". Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ a b "Vientiane - Patou Say" (in German). Sgoldbach. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ Laos Diplomatic Handbook. Int'l Business Publications. 2007. p. 138. ISBN 1433028859. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
- ^ a b Burke, Andrew (2007). Laos. Lonely Planet. p. 97. ISBN 1741045681. Retrieved 2010-03-30.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthor=ignored (|author=suggested) (help)
External links
