Wat Phra Mahathat in Ayutthaya

Wat Phra Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relics) is one of the most famous ancient temple in Ayutthaya located in the very center of the city. Wat Phra Mahathat was built in 1374 by King Borom Rachatirat to house the relic of the Buddha. Its current name was given during the reign of King Ramesuan (1388-1395). In about 1625 the top portion of the prang broke off and it was rebuilt in 1633. The reconstruction raised the prang to 44 meters and thence to 50 meters when a 6 meter metal spire was added. Later it collapsed again in 1911 so only the foundations of the main prang remains at present. In 1956, the Thailand Fine Arts Department excavated the middle area of the prang and recovered relics of the Buddha within a seven-layer reliquary.

Wat Phra Mahathat is classic of the Ayutthaya ruins: large collapsing stupas surrounded by low walls and rows of broken images of Buddha. This is also where the famous tree that has grown around a Buddha head is located.

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Ayutthaya

Wat Phra Sri San Phet is the main attraction in Ayutthaya located in a complex that has come to be known as the ‘Ayutthaya Ancient Palace’

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet temple was built in 1448 by the order of King Borommatrailokanat inside the old Ayutthaya Grand Palace area (at the southern part of the Royal Palace) as a royal temple used as the place for royal religious ceremonies, similar the Wat Phra Keaw Temple in Bangkok. The Ayutthaya Grand Palace was built by King U-Thong upon the founding of the city in 1350.



Wat Phra Sri Sanphet temple's layout is vary similar to Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Keaw) in Bangkok. due to the design of the temple inspired the design of the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok.

In the temple, there are three Sri Lankan-style chedis, built during the 15th century to enshrine the ashes of three Ayutthaya kings.

In the temple located 16 meters in high of Standing Buddha Image called Phra Buddha Chao Sri Sanphet, once covered with 340 kg of gold. When the Burmese raided Ayutthaya in 1767. The gold that covered the Buddha image was stripped away and taken.



Another attraction inside the temple is Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit. This chapel is located to the south of the temple. A large bronze seated Buddha image (Phra Mongkhon Bophit) was originally enshrined outside the Grand Palace to the east. It could be dated to the 15th century. Later, King Songtham commanded it to be moved to the west, where it is currently enshrined and covered with a Mondop.The top of the Mondop was burnt down due to a thunderbolt. The King then commanded that a new building be built in the form of a big sanctuary (Maha Wihan) to cover the former one.

Wat phra Sri Samphet temple open daily from 08:00 to 17:30. Admission to Wat Phra Sri San Phet temple is 50 Baht.

Ayutthaya City

Ayutthaya short name of "Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya", is an ancient capital of Thailand (Siam), located 80 km north of Bangkok. Ayutthaya city was Siam (Thailand) capital from 1350 to 1767. The ruins indicate that Ayutthaya city was one of the world's most wealthy cities in the 17th Century.




In face Ayutthaya is an island at the confluence of three rivers. (The Chao Phraya river, the Pa Sak river, and the Lopburi river) As the train station is at the east side off the island, most tourists will have to cross the river by ferry.
Ayutthaya has lots of interesting tourist places such as buhdist temples, Museums, Foreign Settlements, riverside restaurants, and market.