Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Wat Phra Mahathat
(cnr Th Chee Kun & Th Naresuan; admission 50B; 8am-6pm)
The most photographed image in Ay-
uthaya is here; a sandstone Buddha head that lies mysteriously tangled within a tree's en-
twined roots. Built in 1374 during the reign of King Borom Rachathirat I, Wat Phra Ma-
hathat also has a central
prang
(Khmer-style
chedi
) and rows of headless Buddha images.
Nobody knows how the Buddha head ended up in the tree. Some say the head was
abandoned after the Burmese sacked Ayuthaya, and trees subsequently grew around it.
Others believe thieves tried to steal the image, but gave up as it was too heavy.
RUIN
Wat Ratburana
RUIN
(admission 50B; 8am-6pm)
The
prang
in this temple is one of the best extant versions in the
city, with detailed carvings of lotus and mythical creatures. The temple, just north of Wat
Phra Mahathat, was built in the 15th century by King Borom Rachathirat II on the crema-
tion site for his two brothers who died while fighting each other for the throne.
Looters raided the site in 1957 and stole many treasures. Some of the culprits were ar-
rested and a subsequent official excavation of the site uncovered many rare Buddha im-
ages in the crypt.
Wat Thammikarat
RUIN
( 8am-7pm)
To the west of Wat Ratburana, this temple is a pleasant place to sit
among the ruins. The most prominent feature is a central
chedi
surrounded by
singha
(guardian lion) sculptures. Local people believe that the temple predated the Ayuthaya
period, a claim unsupported by architectural evidence.
Wat Suwannaram
RUIN
(off Th U Thong; 8am-7pm)
This temple is not one of the most-visited sites but its dif-
ferent architectural styles make it worth seeing. Set in the southeast of the island, King
Rama I designed the exterior of the older-style
uposatha
while Rama III was responsible
for the interior.
