North Thailand / Sukhothai / The Royal Palace and Wat Mahathat

Photo: Giant Buddha among the ruins of Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai

The royal palace lies in the center of the old town and covers an area of 160,000sqm (16 hectares, roughly 40 acres), about one fourth of the area of the town within the walls. The palace compound is surrounded by a moat and contains two main sections; the royal residence and the palace temple, Wat Mahathat.

The famous stone inscription of King Ramkhamhaeng was found here by King Mongkut in the 19th century, together with a piece of the stone throne called Manangkhasila Asana. King Ramkhamhaeng had this throne in the midst of a sugar palm grove where, at his request, a monk preached on Buddhist Sabbath days and the king conducted the affairs of state on other days. This throne was later installed in Bangkok's Temple of the Emerald Buddha.

The sanctuary lies to the west behind the actual royal palace. It is Sukhothai's largest wat and has a customary main Chedi in lotus-bud shape and a ruined Vihara (hall). At the base of the Chedi stand figures of Buddhist disciples in adoration. On the pedestal are seated Buddha images. In front of this reliquary is a large Vihara which originally contained a remarkable seated bronze Buddha in Sukhothai style, cast and installed by King Lithai of Sukhothai in 1362. At the end of the 18th century, the image was removed to the Vihara Luang of Wat Suthat in Bangkok by order of King Rama I and has since been named Phra Si Sakaya Muni. In front of the large Vihara is another smaller Vihara which was probably built during the Ayutthaya period. Its main Buddha image (8m (26ft) high was installed inside a separate building. In front of the southern image a piece of sculpture called Khom Dam Din (a Khmer who came by way of walking underground) was found. It is now kept in the Mae Ya Shrine near the Sukhothai Administrative Building.

To the South stands a pedestal of a large Chedi built up in steps. The lowest platform is adorned with beautiful stucco figures of demons, elephants and lions with angels riding on their backs. Mural paintings adorn the crypt of this Chedi.


Photo: Standing Buddha at Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai