| We continue drive to Ayutthaya Historical Study Center, served as an educational resource for students, scholars, and the public. The center presents display of the ancient city including models of the palace and the port area and reconstruction of ships and architectural elements, as well as a fine selection of historical objects. There is an interesting section about the presence of foreigners in Ayutthaya. |
Wat Si Sanphet |
 |
Wat Phra Si Sanphet |
|
Wat Mongkol Bophit |
|
Most temples in Ayutthaya are partly in ruins but still very impressive. Phra Si Sanphet Temple was another part of the early royal palace and is in complete ruin. It reminded one slightly of the Acropolis in Greece with only walls and pillars remaining. There is still some crumbling pagoda and pieces of Buddha statues sitting amongst what were once walls. Next to this temple is Mongkolborphit Temple, there is a large Buddha image there, but the building that once stood over it has been burned down in 1767.
Buddha Head |
|
Ruin of Wat Mahathat |
|
More ruin |
|
Our next stop is Mahathat Temple, which was a set of ruins very much like all the others. But, the one remarkable feature is a large stone head of Buddha that is completely surrounded by the roots of a tree.
After that we visit another giant Buddha, this one reclining on his side and out in the open in a field. This is part of the Lokayasutha Temple.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram, an ancient Buddhist temple, built in 1630. It is very similar in architecture to Angkor Wat in Cambodia and may have been built to commemorate a king's mother who lived in that area. The Wat sits on a raised platform and is surrounded by low brick walls and a row of 120 life-size sitting Buddha images around the perimeter. Most Buddha images are missing their heads. At the center sits a large Prang (Khmer-type tower) that is surrounded by four medium Prangs and eight lesser Prangs. You can climb to the top of the largest tower but the steps are so steep it is almost hard to get down.
 |
 |
