Located on National Highway 6, 46 kilometres east of Vientiane and 102 kilometres west of Paksan, Wat Phrabat Phonesane is an important pilgrimage site for lowland Lao. The stupa was constructed to house a 2.4 metre by 1.2 metre Buddha footprint which was found here in March 1933; the wat itself was constructed soon afterwards. Wat Phrabat Phonesane was last renovated in 1987. Some three kilometres to the west next to the Mekong River lies its sister temple Wat Phrabat (see below), from where the mysterious ‘Naga Lights’ phenomenon may be seen in the Mekong River each November. Each year in July Wat Phrabat Phonesane hosts the Boun Phrabat full moon festival.