Ayutthaya

It is a Buddhist temple located within the Ayutthaya Historical Park. It had royal status and was considered the most sacred during the kingdom of Attuthaya, a kingdom that ruled Thailand between 1351 and 1767. The main pagodas are: Mahathat Chedi and Mahathat Prang, both with relics of Buddha. At one point in history, these were temples where the Supreme Patriarch (head of the order of Buddhist monks in Thailand) resided. The construction of the Mahathat Chedi began in 1374 during the reign of Boromma Ratchathirat and was completed under the reign of King Ramesuan. The temple was destroyed and burned during the Burmese invasion in 1767 and has been in ruins ever since.

It is a Buddhist temple located west of the Chao Phraya River. It was built by King Prasat Thong as the first temple of his reign, as a memory of his mother, who lived in that area. It was designed in the Khmer style, a predominant style at the time. Its name literally means “Temple of the long and glorious reign.” It has a 35-meter-high central pagoda tower, in Cambodian style, with 4 small pagodas. The entire construction stands on a rectangular platform, which is surrounded by 8 pagodas connected in the shape of a cross. Along the outer wall were 120 statues of seated Buddha. It was a royal temple where Buddhist ceremonies were held and it was used as the residence of the kings.