Wat phra si sanphet

History of Wat Phra That Si Sanphet

The temple was founded in 1350 by U Thong, the future Ramathibodi I, on land then serving as a royal residence. Originally, it simply consisted of three wooden buildings called "Prasat", typical of a royal palace.

A century later, King Borommatrailokkanat (reigning from 1448) built a new palace further north and consecrated the old one as sacred ground, laying the foundations of Wat Phra Si Sanphet. His successor Ramathibodi II added two chedis in 1492, then in 1499 the great viharn (Vihara Luang), intended to house an imposing 16m high bronze statue, the Phra Sri Sanphetdayan, which will give its name to the temple. In 1530, a third chedi It was erected by Borommaracha IV to house the ashes of Ramathibodi II.

From 1629The temple was restored by Prasat Thong and later enriched during the reign of Narai (Ramathibodi III), who added a Greek cross-shaped structure to the west of the chedis and probably the intermediate rectangular mondops. At its height, Wat Phra Si Sanphet housed countless gold statues adorned with precious stones, as well as treasures offered by foreign powers seeking alliances with the kingdom.

In 1742, Borommakot restored it again and had the next one built Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit, still active today despite its partial destruction in 1767. That year, the Burmese invasion ravaged Ayutthaya: the royal temple was burned and looted, leaving only the three large chedis visible today.

Architecture of Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Wat Phra Si Sanphet is aligned along an east-west axis. The three large chedis rest on a raised platform and are shaped like large bells, a classic architectural feature of the Ayutthaya period. The entire complex was surrounded by a covered gallery, lined with Buddha statues.

Because it was the original site of the royal palace, Wat Phra Si Sanphet has this special feature: it is still surrounded by the remains of a wall, of which the remains of a guard post can be seen on the southwest corner of this fortification, next to the main entrance.

Other notable buildings included the Prasat Phra Narai, recognizable by its cross shape, a royal reception hall, and two secondary viharns that framed the main one, "Vihara Luang" containing the Phra Si Sanphet.

1- The three main chedis

The main attraction, visible upon arrival, is the three imposing chedis, the only survivors of the devastation wrought by Burmese troops. The episode left a lasting mark: even today, some Thai nationalists harbor a deep resentment towards this period.

As mentioned in the historical section, the three chedis were not erected at the same time. The first was built to the east, followed by the one now located in the center, both in 1492 during the reign of Ramathibodi II, to house the ashes of his father and his elder brother, Borommaracha Thirat III, who reigned for only three years. The third chedi, to the west, was added in 1530 by his son and successor, Borommarachathirat IV, to house the ashes of Ramathibodi II.

At their height, the spires of the chedis were covered with gilded plates (probably solid gold). The Burmese looted and damaged the entire complex in 1767. By the beginning of the 20th century, only the eastern chedi was still standing.

Despite the destruction, remarkable remains were discovered. During excavations of the eastern chedi, the Department of Fine Arts unearthed a series of miniature stupas nested within one another like Russian dolls, containing sacred relics. These objects are on display at the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.

Hundreds of small Buddha statues in bronze, crystal, silver, lead and gold have also been found: the majority are now in the National Museum of Bangkok, others can be seen in a viharn of Wat Pho.

2- The mondops

These structures were located between each chedi. Their exact date is unknown, but they were probably not added before the mid-16th century.^e century, during the reign of King Narai.

By definition, a mondop It is a square, enclosed building of Thai religious architecture, featuring a multi-tiered pyramidal roof topped with a spire. To better visualize it, think of the golden mondop adjacent to the chedi of Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.

The term comes from the Sanskrit word mandapa, referring to pavilions in Hindu temples. Their function varies: sacred library (ho trai), shelter for religious objects or place of worship. In Ayutthaya, their exact role remains uncertain due to the extensive damage they have suffered. Today, only the brick foundations remain, except for the eastern mondop, some walls of which are still visible (it was once possible to access it, thus obtaining a view of the entire eastern part of the site).

3- Viharn Phra Si Sanphet

A true centerpiece of the temple, this monumental viharn, 50 meters long, was specially built to house the main statue commissioned by Ramathibodi II: the Phra Sri Sanphetdayan, “the Holy, Splendid and Omniscient”.

The bronze statue weighed 64 tons and was covered with 343 kg of pure gold, a process that took more than three years. It became the central object of veneration in the kingdom and ensured the fame of the temple, which then officially took the name Wat Phra Si Sanphet.

During the sack of Ayutthaya, the Burmese melted the gold plating, severely damaging the statue. Later, King Rama I had the bronze core transferred to Bangkok: it was encased in a chedi at Wat Pho, where it remains today under the name of Phra Chedi Sri Sanphetdayan (the central chedi adorned with green mosaics in the large courtyard).

4- Secondary Viharns

Two secondary viharns flanked the Viharn Phra Si Sanphet, each housing an important statue. To the north was the viharn of Phra Buddha Lokanat ("protector of the world"), with a standing statue recovered after the sack and now visible at Wat Pho. To the south stood a seated statue of Phra Palelai, surrounded by a naga; it was totally destroyed in 1767.

5- Chom Thong Palace Hall

Located northwest of the main viharn, the Chom Thong Palace Hall ( Phra Chom Thong Tinang Throne Hall) is sometimes mistakenly called Sala Chom ThongThis is incorrect because salas are generally considered to be covered spaces without walls, whereas this is a true enclosed building. It probably served as a royal audience hall and study space for monks, where Buddhist manuscripts were kept.

It is one of the best-preserved buildings: its high walls and two rows of pillars still remain. A faithful reproduction can be seen at Muang Boran (Ancient City), southeast of Bangkok.

6- The Ubosot (ordination room)

Surprisingly, the enclosure also included a ubosotAlthough no monks resided there—the space being reserved for the royal family—their presence is attested by the eight stelae. sema traditionally surrounding this type of building.

Of the original structure, only a few elements have survived, notably finely carved wooden door panels depicting guardians, now preserved at the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.

7- Prasat Phra Narai

Built during the reign of King Narai, this Greek cross-shaped building, called Prasat Phra NaraiIt blends European influences (a cruciform plan reminiscent of churches) and Indo-Persian influences (pointed arches of the windows). This hybrid reflects the international openness of the kingdom at that time, marked by trade with Japanese, Persian, Portuguese, French, and Dutch communities established around Ayutthaya.

The façade facing the chedis once housed a seated statue, now decapitated; only the brick body remains, formerly covered in plaster and probably gilding. The layers of brick, indicating that the statue was enlarged at some point without replacing the original structure, can also be seen.

8- Group of chapels and secondary chedis

Finally, the enclosure contained about twenty small chapels, each associated with a secondary chedi arranged all around it. Less imposing than the three main chedis, they were intended to receive the ashes of members of the royal family over the generations.

Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit

While it is indeed a temple in its own right, its immediate proximity to Wat Phra Si Sanphet makes a visit to both sites inseparable. It is also the only temple within the historical park to have been so thoroughly restored, largely due to the importance of the statue it houses: an imposing seated image of the Buddha.

During the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, the roof of the viharn collapsed onto the statue, causing it to lose an arm, but the head and torso remained remarkably intact. Thanks to successive restorations, begun during the reign of Rama V and further strengthened in the 1950s with the support of the Burmese government, the statue and the temple have regained their present appearance. Even today, the Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit is an active place of worship and ceremonies, very frequented by Thais who come to pray or make offerings.

Its massive silhouette and restored roof contrast with the nearby ruins of Wat Phra Si Sanphet, offering a beautiful transition between historical remains and living religious practice. Besides the statue, inside you'll find several Buddha heads on display, as well as photographs showing the temple's condition before its restoration.