Travel around the world.: กรกฎาคม 2016

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 14 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2559

Wat Mahathat ,Ayutthaya ,Thailand

Thai | English

About : Wat Mahathat

Wat Na Phra That or Wat Maha That is believed to have been built during the 12th century prior to Ayutthaya’s establishment to house the Buddha’s relics. According to ancient Thai tradition, Wat Mahathat represented the city centre as it enshrined relics of the Buddha. Thus, we found temples called Wat Maha That in several important cities around Thailand.

The principal stupa or prang was found to be the moral precept of the first stupa in Southeast Asia that was influenced by ancient Khmer art and architecture consisting of the laterite structures and bricks. This unique blend of the Thai stupa called Prang Maha That and ancient Khmer art would be seen only in Thailand.
During the early Ayutthaya era, Wat Maha That was considered as the important religious focal point 1 in 5 “Centre of the City” where the Buddha’s relics were housed and the residence of the Supreme Patriarch or leader of the Thai Buddhist monks. At that time, the temple was the venue of important royal ceremonies and celebrations. Later King Borommatrailokkanat, he ordered a new establishment of Wat Pra Si Sanphet and from then on the centre of the city was moved to Wat Pra Si Sanhpet instead.
If you look closely, you will find several intriguing structures from many periods of restorations. This shows us that the temple has been considered a very important sacred place in Thai history. It is a shame that the main prang collapsed during the King Ramesuan era, but was restored. It collapsed again during King Rama V the Great’s reign (1904), so only the foundations of the main prang remain at present.
From the excavations at Wat Maha That, the relics of the Buddha were found and were safely placed in the seven-layered casket buried in the main chamber of the principal prang. The secret chamber was uncovered in the ruins; among the treasures found inside were gold jewellery, a gold casket containing a relic of the Buddha, and fine objects. The treasures found are now displayed at the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. As time has passed, the principal prang now does not have much remaining, but the brick details at the four sides of the base indicates that this temple was built by the Ayothaya architects who were influenced by the ancient Bayon architectural art at that time.

Wat Mahathat consisted basically of a large central prang located in the front of the compound and surrounded by four subsidiary prangs at the four inter-cardinal points, standing on a raised square platform. The Ubosot was placed in the far back of the compound. This typical layout structure giving the wihan more prominence than the ubosot indicates that this temple was established in the early Ayutthaya period. The temple’s prang was also built at 60 metres high, considered one of the old city’s most impressive edifices. This layout also influenced the Buddhist temples built in later periods.

Don’t miss some important remains of variously shaped prangs and chedis that were built and restored by various kings in different periods, in particular the octagonal style chedis with a truncated spire in the Ceylonese style, and the Lanna-influenced bell-shaped chedi. Nearby at the small wihan, another famous highlight that you will have seen in a postcard is the head of the Buddha in the ancient tree trunk and roots growing around it. With its picturesquely ruined stupas, Wat Mahathat is a great place to be at sunset.
(source : Brochure >> The dawn of the Ayutthaya kingdom ,Tourism Authority of Thailand)

Location : Wat Mahathat
Ayutthaya ,Thailand.

Go to destination : Wat Mahathat

Arrival : Wat Mahathat
(Date taken : Dec 8,2015)

No.1 : The Octagonal Chedi

No.2 : Buddha's Head in Tree Roots

No.3 : Wihan Luang (The Grand Hall)

No.4 : Ordination Hall (Ubosot)

No.5 : Main Pagoda (Main Prang)

The beauty of sculpture, architecture at other areas.

This is one place you should not miss to visit.Enjoy your trip.

Download high resolution photos : Wat Mahathat .

Wat Chaiwatthanaram ,the special architectural adopted for religious place which can only be found at here

Wat Phutthaisawan ,one of the oldest temples in Ayutthaya ,Thailand

Wat Khudeedao ,Ayutthaya Historical Park
Wat Yai Chaimongkhon
Wat Na Phra Mane
Phra Mongkhon Bophit is one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair 2015
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Wat Phanan Choeng
Wat Mae Nang Pleum
Wat Thammikarat where the king would visit the temple on Buddhist holy days to listen to the sermon
Wat Kasatrathirat Worawihan , ancient temple , Ayutthaya Historical Park, world heritage
Wat Niwet Thamprawat Ratworawihan is considered the one and only European architectural style temple in Thailand
Wat Thammaram ,place that are associated with the history of Buddhism

วันพุธที่ 13 กรกฎาคม พ.ศ. 2559

Wat Yai Chaimongkhon ,Ayutthaya ,Thailand

Thai | English

About : Wat Yai Chaimongkhon

This ancient temple was built in the early Ayutthaya period. From the Royal Chronicles, the original name was Wat Pa Kaeo or Wat Chao Thai (The Temple of the Crystal Forest and the Supreme Patriarch). The two princes of Ayutthaya, Chao Kaeo and Chao Thai, the two sons of King U-thong died of cholera. The king ordered the bodies of both princes to be cremated and the temple was established at the cremation site. The temple is important because it became the home of Buddhist monks in Theravada Buddhism led Somdet Phra Wanarat for the Thai Forest Tradition or called Aranyawasi with the head abbot of Wat Phutthai sawan in Khamawasi.

When approaching the temple’s vicinity, the remarkable landmark of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon or known as “Chedi Chai Mongkhon” was built in a bell-shaped principal pagoda standing tall and high on an elevated octagonal base. According to the Royal Chronicles, this pagoda was built during the reign of King Naresuan the Great to honour his victory against the Minyekyawswa of Burma. The name of the temple was changed to Wat Chai Mongkhon and the locals called it Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon instead due to the enormous size of the pagoda. Some historical experts opposed giving the reason that the brick lining technique was similar to that used by Persian architects during King Narai the Great’s era.
After the 2nd defeat of Ayutthaya to the Burmese invasion, Wat Pa Kaeo or Wat Chao Thai was abandoned. King Suriyamarin (Ekathat) appointed as a naval fleet to station at Wat Pa Kaeo to confront the Burmese outside the capital. But his fleet defeated the enemy and the Burmese troops took Wat Pa Kaeo as their fighting base. In 1767, the temple was sacked by the Burmese and the premises were deserted.

The temple’s main focus point is the large reclining Buddha facing east. According to the ancient Thai folklore, the sleeping direction is for the head to the south and the facing side is to the east. In the courtyard outside the main balcony is lined with a set of identical Buddha statues. If you have visited many Thai temples around Bangkok and other big cities, you will be familiar with this style of setting.

With respect to the legend, there are several stories related to Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon. For example, there was a story about Phra Thianracha gathering in the preaching hall to burn candles to consult an oracle before becoming King Maha Chakkraphat. Moreover, the Chaopho Sitthichai Shrine is the place where Thai people believe that the spirit of the unborn son of King Rama V the Great and his drowned queen is housed. These beliefs and stories make the visit at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon more colourful and interesting.
(source : Brochure >> The dawn of the Ayutthaya kingdom ,Tourism Authority of Thailand)

Location : Wat Yai Chaimongkhon
Ayutthaya ,Thailand.

Go to destination : Wat Yai Chaimongkhon

Arrival : Wat Yai Chaimongkhon
(Date taken : Oct 23,2013 ,Dec 8,2015)