Exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park (Part 1): The Ruins of Wat Mahathat

April 7, 1767 – the residents of the city of Ayutthaya are in a desperate situation. They have no food and other supplies are running low. Meanwhile, outside of the city walls is the Burmese army still persevering for more than a year of siege. The rainy season floods, which are their last hope, failed to drown the invading Burmese. There is no hope but death because the enemy didn’t want anything less than the utter destruction of their city.

The inevitable came at 4 o’clock in the afternoon. The city walls fell and the invading Burmese entered and slaughtered and burned and finally destroyed the once proud capital of Ayutthaya Kingdom. The beautiful palaces were torched. Even the glorious temples for Buddha were not spared.1 One of such Buddhist temples destroyed by the Burmese is Wat Mahathat.

The ruins of Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya Historical Park

Wat Mahathat (correctly spelled as Wat Mah That) is known as the Temple of the Great Relic because it once held the relics of Buddha. It was also the residence of the head monk of Ayutthaya Kingdom.2

Wat Mahathat is the first tourist spot that I visited in Ayutthaya Historical Park. Since I was not a Thai, I paid 50 baht as admission fee.

Ticket to Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya Historical Park

The ruins are everywhere and most of them are in the shades of orange due to the clay bricks used to construct the prangs, stupa, walls and structures of Wat Mahathat.

Stupas in Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya Historical Park

I was fortunate to enter Wat Mahathat before busloads of tourists arrived in Ayutthaya Historical Park. I was able to take good photos of the ruins of Wat Mahathat like this one:

Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya Historical Park

That is a statue of the Buddha which I believed was hacked during the fall of Ayutthaya. Burmese invaders beheaded and removed the golden parts of Buddha statues of Ayutthaya.

Beheaded buddha statues in Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya Historical Park

I guess that getting the spoils of war is much more important than honouring their Buddha.

Headless buddha in Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya Historical Park

Wat Mahathat is approximately located at the center of Ayutthaya. It was placed in that location because the main prang or the temples main tower represents Mount Meru, which is the center of Buddhist universe.

The remains of Wat Mahathat's main prang in Ayutthaya Historical Park
The remaining base of Wat Mahathat's main prang.

Wat Mahathat’s main prang stood 50 meters in the past.2 Now only its base remains.

Near the prangs is the Grand Hall where the monks once lived. What remained of its are just brick walls and the floor. The Buddha statues, the paintings, the gold ornaments that adorned it are now lost.

The ruined monks' house in Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya Historical Park

Near the Grand Hall is the most photographed object in Ayutthaya:

Buddha head in buddha tree in Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya Historical Park

Buddha’s head stuck in a bodhi tree. 

Too bad that taking selfie with Buddha’s head is not allowed. I just contented myself in taking zoom in photo of it.

Head of buddha stuck in a tree in Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya Historical Park

Exploring the ruins of Wat Mahathat amazed me. I felt like an archaeologist trying to decipher the story behind the ruins. I also felt like a regular tourist who sometimes enjoys goofing around.

Ishmael Ahab at Wat Mahathat, Ayutthaya Historical Park
Me playing Samson among the ruins of Ayutthaya.

References:

1. The Burmese - Siamese War (1765-67) in Wikipedia.
2. Wat Maha That in the History of Ayutthaya
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6 comments:

  1. Buti ka pa ish! :( haaaay, sana makapagtravel din ako. :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Mag-ipon ka ng iyong travel fund. O kaya travel local ka muna. Ang dameng magagandang lugar dito sa Pinas.

      Delete
  2. wow the place looks really stunning Ish but the stuck Budha head looks creepy hehe

    ReplyDelete
  3. Ya, it sure looks like Buddha got his head stuck in the roots. Ummm...you Samson? Come, show your muscles. LOL!!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Haha... Ok. You will see my muscles when we meet in the future. :-P

      Delete

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