Ayutthaya murals
Among the oldest surviving.
Peerawat.b — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Paul Cornelis — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Paul Cornelis — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Peerawat.b — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Ddalbiez — CC BY-SA 3.0
One of Phetchaburi's oldest and finest temples, in the heart of the old town, dating back to the Ayutthaya era in the seventeenth century. Its treasure is an old ordination hall whose walls are covered with Ayutthaya-period murals, among the oldest surviving in Thailand, showing rows of seated celestial beings. Its grounds hold a lovely timber hall on stilts over a pond, once a library keeping Buddhist texts safe from ants and damp, and another teak hall moved from an old palace in Ayutthaya, whose door bears the mark of a sword blow said to come from Burmese soldiers when they sacked Ayutthaya. A cloister lined with Buddha images runs around the court. Entry is free and donations are welcome. Modest dress is expected: shoulders and knees covered. The temple is quiet with few visitors, lovely for photography. The heat is fierce from March to May, so early morning is best. It is minutes from Khao Wang and the old market, so half an hour fits easily into a walk round town.
Among the oldest surviving.
A timber hall on stilts.
On the old hall's door.
Central Phetchaburi, east of the Phetchaburi river
To protect Buddhist texts written on palm leaves from termites and damp.
