If you visit Bangkok, try a day trip to Ayutthaya, it’s about an hour away from Bangkok.
Ayutthaya was the capital before Bangkok for almost 400 years and it has a ton of history!
Ayutthaya was called a Golden city – it’s been said that all the city was built with gold. That may be why the city was destroyed by invading armies, again and again until they finally moved closer to where the capital city of Bangkok sits today.
These are 3 great temples that I would recommend for you to visit. But if you have time, there are tons of temples to visit in the Ayutthaya area…
The map is only available in Thai (sorry) – click to Zoom… Numbers 15, 9 and 50 relate to the posts (in order) below.
Start with my favorite one at Wat Mahathat (วัดมหาธาตุ)
GPS: 14.356998, 100.567472
First of all, remember that there are more than one “Wat Mahathat” in Thailand and almost every province will have one temple named “Mahathat”. Especially the capital provinces (Sukhothai, Bangkok, etc).
Wat Mahathat is typical of the Ayutthaya ruins, with an amazing Buddha-head peeking out from a tree trunk!!!
Most tourists come here for great pictures with the amazing Buddha-head in the tree. But please be polite and respect the Buddha… This is a religious spot for Thai’s, and you’ll be asked to keep your head lower than the Buddha.
If there is a Thai in prior, be respectful and don’t step in front of or over them to take your picture!
For Thai’s, we believe that any part of the Buddha head should not be on the ground. That’s why the Buddha-head is lifted from the ground by the tree trunk.
For above picture, when Ayutthaya flooded in 2011, the Buddha-head was still above water as if protected by the tree…it’s kind of a miracle!
Scattered around the temple are some important remains of variously shaped prangs and chedis.
This is great to spend at least 30 mins and more here. There are some shops in front of the temple but it’s just OK.
Next…
VIHARN PHRAMONGKHON BOPHIT (วิหารพระมงคลบพิตร)
GPS: 14.354903, 100.557717
Viharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit is a major Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya, the attraction is large bronze cast Buddha image.
The Buddha was previously sitting outdoors at Wat Chichiang, but was moved indoors…however, the roof collapsed after it was struck by lightning.
Also, when the enemy destroyed Ayutthaya they thought that this big Buddha was covered with gold. So they tried to burn the building to get it out only to find that it was actually bronze.
After they found out this is just a bronze cast Buddha, they left the Buddha statue where it was (but a little damaged).
A new viharn was built with a major restoration work on the Buddha Images to cover the statue with gold leave…
Outside the Viharn, there is a local market all around – you can try Thai local food or get some Thai handmade stuff here (good shopping spot!)
Last but not least to Wat Yai Chai Mongkol (วัดใหญ่ชัยมงคล)
GPS: 14.345629, 100.593232
The beautiful secrets of Wat Yaichaimongkol acquired a personality of its own. The temple is alive with the smiles of Phra Buddha Chaimongkol, the most sacred Buddha image, and others. Their images not only speak of a time of freedom as well as of the affluence of the Ayutthaya Kingdom but also give a warm welcome to visitors from other lands.
The Great Pagoda Chayamongkol from the far horizon. The Great Pagoda Chayamongkol gives an illusion of peace and the glorious victory of King Naresuan the Great over the Burmese four centuries earlier.
He is the idol of the Thai army and the hero of all Thailand. Don’t forget to climb up and check out around it’s very great temple.
In the front of the Great Pagoda of Wat Yai Chaimongkol is a beautiful place with fragrant flowers and green grass where the Statue, a symbolic figure, of King Naresuan The Great stands.
You will find so many sizes of cockfighting statue around the King Naresuan, the Ordination Hall is the ancient center of worship and arts. As his skills and strategy in cockfighting…
It’s a very popular tradition to get a cockfighting statue in honer of King Naresuan. Thai”s place the cockfighting statues near the base of King Naresuan statue to pay worship. Some of the cockfighting statues are huge, human size!
As I have mentioned before…if you have time, there are tons of temples to visit in the Ayutthaya area…
After you visit these 3 temples, consider stopping at either the Summer Palace or Elephant Ride.
Stay tuned for those 2 attractions!
