Buddha image in front of the ruins of a chedi at Wat Mahathat
Buddha image at Wat Mahathat

Wat Mahathat

“The temple of the Great Relic”

Name
Wat Mahathat, “the temple of the Great Relic”
Date
1374
Location
Corner of Chi Khun road and Naresuan road on the historical island

Wat Mahathat, “the temple of the Great Relic” was one of the most important temples in the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Located on the historical island the large monastery features a huge central prang, a very large principal viharn and ubosot and a great number of subsidiary chedis and viharns. The upper part of its once massive central prang has collapsed. Today only the base remains.

One of the temple’s most photographed objects is the head of a stone Buddha image entwined in the roots of a tree.

The head of a Buddha image embedded in the roots of a Banyan tree at Mahathat Ayutthaya
The head of a Buddha image
embedded in the roots of a Banyan tree

One of Ayutthaya’s most important temples

Wat Mahathat was one of Ayutthaya’s most important temples. It enshrined Buddha relics and was the seat of the Supreme Patriarch of Buddhism and thus the center of Buddhism in the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

Wat Mahathat was a Royal monastery located close to the palace. The King performed important ceremonies here, such as the Royal Kathin ceremony.

A Buddha image in front of the ruins of the Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya Historical Park
A European style building at the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace

Ayutthaya Historical Park Small Group Tour

  • Transfer to Bang Pa-In
  • Visit Bang Pa-In Summer Palace
  • Transfer to Ayutthaya Historical Park
  • Wat Mahathat
  • Wat Phra Si Sanphet
  • Wat Chaiwatthanaram
  • Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit
  • English speaking guide
  • Duration 9 to 10 hours
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History of the Wat Mahathat

The temple was constructed in 1374 by King Boromma Rachathirat I. A large prang was built to enshrine Buddha relics. The prang collapsed in the early 17th century, after which it was restored and enlarged. A large number of viharns (assembly halls) and chedis have been added during the reign of later Kings.

When the Burmese invaded and largely destroyed Ayutthaya in 1767, the Wat Mahathat was set on fire. The central prang collapsed again in the early 20th century and has not been restored.

Excavations

During excavation works in the temple in 1956 by the Fine Arts Department the crypt in the central prang was discovered. Inside was a large hollow stone container in which relics and precious objects as votive tablets, gold ornaments, ancient images of the Buddha and other precious items were contained. Artifacts discovered in the crypt are on display in the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.

Architecture of the Wat Mahathat

The design of the Wat Mahathat follows the concepts of the ancient Khmer mountain temples of Angkor in Cambodia.

Central prang and surrounding galleries

Those temples were built to symbolize the Hindu and Buddhist view of the universe.

The central prang standing on an elevated platform at the center of the temple represents Mount Meru, the center of the universe surrounded by oceans. Only the large base remains, the brick upper part of the prang has collapsed.

The central prang is surrounded by four smaller ones at the corners of the platform, in turn surrounded by galleries enclosing a courtyard. Countless images of the Buddha line the gallery, which was at the time covered with a wooden roof.

Seated Buddha and a Khmer style prang
Buddha and a Khmer style prang

Viharn Luang

East of the central prang stands the main assembly hall, the Viharn Luang connecting to the gallery in the West. Its main entrance was East towards the rising sun. Two rows of pillars supported the roof of the 40 meter long building. The principal Buddha image sat on a pedestal in the back of the viharn facing East. Today its elevated base and some sections of the walls with false windows remain.

The ordination hall

On the other side of the central prang stands the ubosot, the hall were novices were ordained into monkhood. Smaller than the Viharn Luang, it connects to the gallery in the East. The hall is surrounded by eight sema stones that mark the sacred area of the ubosot.

Other structures

On either side of the temple’s main buildings that are lined up East to West are several smaller viharns and chedis built over different time periods. The temple complex was surrounded by a wall with large entrance gates to the West and East.

Opening hours

Wat Mahathat opens daily from 8 am until 5 pm.

Entrance fees

Entrance fee is 50 Thai Baht.


Other Ayutthaya temples
Temples & history
Ayutthaya Historical Park Museums

Ayutthaya Historical Park Tours

  • From Bangkok
  • Private or group tour
  • Also visit other highlights like Bang Pa-In Summer Palace
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