Central Thailand / Ayutthaya / Wat Phra Mahathat

Photo: Giant Buddha head at Wat Phra Mahathat

This Wat on the corner of Chee Kun Road and Naresuan Road was built by King Ramesuan (reigned twice, 1369-1370, 1388-1395) when he was a monk in between his two tenures in 1384. The major structure was a high Prang (Khmer-style pagoda) which was destroyed by Burmese invaders. When the government undertook to restore all Ayutthaya ruins in 1956, the Fine Arts Department excavated the pagoda and found a buried treasure chest containing many valuables. Among the objects discovered were a relic of Lord Buddha, placed inside a golden casket, several golden Buddha images of different sizes, and many other objects in gold, ruby and crystal. These objects are now housed in Bangkok's National Museum.