In addition to the 'Sarong' that "Lisa from BLACKPINK" has popularized globally into a "Sarong Fever", it's believed that many people would want to visit the three temples in Ayutthaya, where Lisa has been seen - Wat Maha That, Wat Na Phra Meru, and Wat Maenangpluem. Today, we are going to introduce you to Wat Maha That.
Wat Maha That is located near the Pa Tan Bridge, to the east of Wat Phra Si Sanphet. According to Bang's Chronicles, the temple was established during the reign of Borommarachathirat I and later, King Ramesuan invited the Śarīra Buddhist relics to be enshrined within the base of the temple's main pagoda in 1384. The Pagoda of Wat Maha That is considered one of the earliest constructions of the Ayutthaya era, influenced by the Yom Pagoda. The lower level is built of laterite with new enhancements. The upper part is made of brick and plaster. King Borommatrailokkanat ordered a restoration of the pagoda by increasing its height. Later, only the relic chamber was left after the pagoda collapsed. There is evidence that it was a large and beautifully constructed pagoda. In 1956, the Department of Fine Arts conducted archaeological excavation of this pagoda and discovered numerous significant antiquities, including a relic chamber containing seven nested miniature chedis, made of chinaware, silver, bronze, black wood, red sandalwood, mother-of-pearl, and gold. The relics and valuable ornaments are currently enshrined at the National Museum, Chao Sam Phraya.
The octagonal pagoda is a four-tiered, eight-cornered structure with a small pagoda at the top. This is a unique pagoda that can only be found in Ayutthaya. In the main chapel, the Department of Fine Arts discovered that there had been illicit excavation up to 2 meters deep. So, they continued to excavate another 2 meters and found five small pottery vessels containing various gold leaves. Inside the medium-sized pagoda, there is a glass mosaic depicting a scene from the Buddha's life story.
Another interesting thing about the temple is the sandstone Buddha head, which is enveloped by the roots of a Bodhi tree. This Buddha head is an art piece from the Ayutthaya era that remains only in parts and is lying in the roots next to the chapel. It's believed that the Buddha head fell down to the base of the tree during the city's destruction, and over time the roots grew over it, creating a unique and magnificent sight, making it one of Ayutthaya's wonders.
Wat Maha That is open for visitors from 08:00 AM to 06:00 PM. The entrance fee for tourists is 10 Baht, while students can enter for free. For more information, please contact the Ayutthaya Historical Park Office at +66 3524 2286.
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