Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Address: 9H45+963, Tambon Pratuchai, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000, Thailand
Opening hours: 8:00-18:00, daily.
Admission: 50 Baht/person
Reasons to visit: These three stupas are the landmarks of the temple and the symbols of Ayutthaya.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet in Ayutthaya, Thailand is a royal temple with a long history, unique style and majestic atmosphere, which is one of the most important attractions in Ayutthaya Heritage Park. If you want to learn about the history and culture of Thailand, appreciate the ancient architectural art, and feel the sacredness and solemnity of Buddhism, then this is a place not to be missed.
The history of Wat Phra Si Sanphet
The history of Wat Phra Si Sanphet dates back to the 15th century, when it was the palace of the Ayutthaya Dynasty, the residence of the king and the administrative center. 1491, King Ramathibodi II built a temple inside the palace to enshrine a 16-meter-high gold statue of the Buddha, which is the origin of Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Later, three grayish-white Ceylon stupas were added to the temple to house the ashes of Ramathibodi II, his brother Borommarachathirat III and his father King Borommatrailokkanat. These three stupas are the landmarks of the temple and the symbols of Ayutthaya.
In 1767, the Burmese army invaded Ayutthaya and ransacked the temple, melting down the golden Buddha statues and destroying the stupas, leaving only broken walls. In 1956, the Thai government began restoring and preserving the temple, restoring it to its original state, and in 1991, the Temple of Phra Si Sanphet, along with the other Ayutthaya ruins, was declared a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
The features of the Temple
The temple's architecture is a combination of Thai and Khmer styles, reflecting the multiculturalism of the Ayutthaya dynasty. The temple is rectangular in plan and is surrounded by a tall brick wall with four gates corresponding to the four directions of southeast, northwest and north. At the center of the temple are three stupas, arranged in a zigzag pattern, increasing in size from south to north, with the tallest one reaching 35 meters. The stupas have a square base, symbolizing the secular world; the main body of the stupa is conical, symbolizing the Buddhist universe; and the top of the stupa is in the shape of a minaret, symbolizing the path to nirvana. The gray color of the pagoda is the result of a layer of cement smeared on the outside of the brick body, which washed away by rain and turned gray and black over time, adding a sense of historical heaviness. Inside the stupa is a dungeon with colorful murals on the walls showing scenes of life and customs during the Ayutthaya period.
The temple is surrounded by many other buildings such as halls, pagodas, Buddhist temples, and monasteries, forming a complete religious and administrative complex. One of the most noteworthy buildings is the Vihara Phra Mongkhon Bophit, a huge Buddhist temple located in the southeast corner of the temple, which houses a large bronze Buddha statue that is about 12.5 meters high and weighs about 90 tons, making it one of the largest bronze Buddhas in Thailand. The statue was originally enshrined in one of the temple's open Buddha halls before it was vandalized and moved into the current Buddha Hall in 1956, which has a spectacular roof covered by a golden spire.
The temple is ideally located in the center of Ayutthaya and can be reached on foot from various attractions in the city center in no more than 10 minutes each way. The temple is surrounded by many other temples and monuments such as Wat Phra Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Chai Wattanaram, etc., which can be visited together to experience the historical charm and cultural heritage of Ayutthaya.
Visiting Information
Best time to visit: The temple is open all year round, but the best season to visit is from November to February, which is Thailand's cool season, with moderate temperatures and little rainfall to avoid the heat and humidity. March to May is Thailand's hot season, with temperatures up to 40 degrees Celsius and strong sunlight, requiring sun protection and hydration. June to October is Thailand's rainy season, with frequent rains, which can interfere with sightseeing, but is also good for the growth of plants, making the scenery around the temple more emerald green.
What to see/do: The main attractions of the temple are the three stupas, which can be admired from different angles for beautiful photographs, or you can enter the underground palace and view the murals to learn about the history of Ayutthaya. There are many other buildings around the temple, so you can choose some to visit according to your interest and time to experience the art of Thai architecture. If you come to visit on a sunny day, you can quietly enjoy the beautiful halo of sunlight shining through the leaves; watching travelers resting in the shade, children playing, feeling the vicissitudes of reality and history.
How to visit: the temple is not large, so you can walk to visit, which takes about 1-2 hours. The temple is a religious place, you need to pay attention to etiquette, dress appropriately, do not wear shorts, tank tops, skirts and other revealing clothes, do not make a lot of noise, do not touch the statue of Buddha, do not take photos of the statue of Buddha, do not casually touch the Buddha statue and step on historical sites and so on.