After tucking into the fried goodies at
Bang Pa In Palace, I was informed by the tour guide that our next destination will be Wat Mahathat, also known as "Temple of Great Relics"and Ayutthaya's restored ruins. We arrived before noon, gathered at the entrance whereby the tour guide briefed us on the long history of the temple. I was intrigued to hear that this temple was built during the 14th century. When the Burmese army invaded Ayutthaya, the temple was reduced to ruins and many of the Buddha images were vandalized by lopping off the heads.
This temple was left abandoned until the Department of Fine Art began restoration works in 1950s. The Prang or main structure collapsed twice, once during the Ayutthaya period and again in 1911. Only the foundation of the main prang remains at present.Walking in the blazing sun was not comfortable, all the more I did not carry an umbrella or wore a hat. However I was glad that I applied sunblock all over my face and body before I left the hotel in the morning. I braved the sun and continued walking.
Everything in the temple I must say is a sight to behold including the Prangs and laterite ruins,
The octagonal chedis
The Satellite Vihara
The overview of the gallery
The gallery of Rabien Khot
Decapitated sitting Buddha image
For me the main eye catching highlight is the lone Buddha's head, entrapped by the roots of an overgrown banyan tree. Taking pictures of the head was quite a challenge because most of the tourists were crowding in this area.
Somehow I manoeuvred in between and managed to click a few shots.
Despite the ruins and what's left of it today, this temple is a major tourists attraction and one you should not forgo if you are in Ayutthaya.
Related articles
The octagonal chedis
The Satellite Vihara
The overview of the gallery
The gallery of Rabien Khot
For me the main eye catching highlight is the lone Buddha's head, entrapped by the roots of an overgrown banyan tree. Taking pictures of the head was quite a challenge because most of the tourists were crowding in this area.
Somehow I manoeuvred in between and managed to click a few shots. 
Despite the ruins and what's left of it today, this temple is a major tourists attraction and one you should not forgo if you are in Ayutthaya. 
Happy to know about Ayutthaya...:-)
ReplyDeleteWow...thanks for the info....good writeup..:-)
ReplyDeleteWow, I loved the photographs, Navaneetham! There is a calm effect which is reflective even in these photographs...Loved it! The last two pictures are really something different.... Thanks for posting the wonderful travel pics!
ReplyDeleteThat last photo is a truly mesmerizing shot, almost an art work by itself
ReplyDeleteWow!Red brick temple,looks nostalgic and the Buddha head now belongs to the tree.
ReplyDelete