Pha That Luang and it place in Vientiane Pha That Luang according to the Lao people was originally built as a Hindu temple in the 3 century. Buddhist missionaries from the Mauryan Empire are believed to have been sent by the Emperor Ashoka , including Bury Chan or Praya Chanthabury Pasithisak and five Arahata monks who brought a holy relic of Lord Buddha to the stupa. It was rebuilt in the 13 century as a Khmer temple which fell into ruin.