The crowned Buddha
In gilded royal attire.
Mastertongapollo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Stefan Fussan — CC BY-SA 3.0 · Mastertongapollo — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Designer: Prince Narisara Nuwattiwong (-1947), painting: Mr. Carlo Rigoli (-1964), photograph: Mastertongapollo — Public domain · Stefan Fussan — CC BY-SA 3.0
One of the few temples in Ayutthaya that came through the 1767 sack intact, on the north bank of the river opposite the old royal palace. Tradition says the Burmese army camped here during the siege, so it was not burned, and its hall and statues remain as they were more than two and a half centuries ago. The great ordination hall holds a gilded bronze Buddha in royal attire, crowned and jewelled like a king, about six metres tall, one of the finest examples of this late-Ayutthaya style, under a decorated timber ceiling and octagonal pillars. A small neighbouring hall has an old seated statue of green stone, thought to date from the Dvaravati period more than a thousand years ago and rare for sitting on a chair in the Western manner. A token fee is charged to foreigners, and it opens from morning until about five. Modest dress is expected: shoulders and knees covered, and shoes off inside the halls. The halls are fairly dark, so give your eyes a moment to adjust. It is across the river north of the island, minutes by bike or tuk-tuk from Wat Phra Si Sanphet, so combine them on the same round.
In gilded royal attire.
From the Dvaravati era.
As it was before 1767.
North bank of the Lopburi river, opposite the old royal palace, Ayutthaya
Wat Phra Si SanphetAyutthaya's most important and most photographed temple: it was the royal temple9 minutes walk
Wat RatchaburanaA temple built by King Borommarachathirat II in 1424 on the cremation site of hi13 minutes walk
Wat Lokaya Sutha (Reclining Buddha)A huge open-air reclining Buddha, about forty-two metres long, built of brick an13 minutes walk
Wat Mahathat (Buddha Head in the Tree Roots)One of Ayutthaya's most important ruins; Ayutthaya was the capital of the Siames14 minutes walk
Chao Sam Phraya National MuseumAyutthaya's most important museum, holding treasures found in the city's ruins, 16 minutes walkTradition says the Burmese army camped here during the siege, so it was not burned like the city's other temples.