Gaze upon the remnants of grandeur. This is the Wihan at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. Once the holiest temple in Ayutthaya it served as a model for Bangkok’s famed Wat Phra Kaew.
Imagine Ayutthaya in its prime. This temple was the heart of the royal palace. Royal ceremonies took place here. Only members of the royal family were allowed inside. Monks were invited for these special occasions. No monks permanently resided within its sacred walls.
King Borommatrailokkanat built the Wihan in 1448. He transformed the old royal palace into this holy site. His son King Ramathibodi II added even more. He constructed two magnificent chedis. These chedis hold the ashes of his father and brother.
A colossal Buddha statue once stood within this Wihan. The Phra Si Sanphetdayan was sixteen meters tall. It was covered in gold. Its bronze core weighed an astonishing sixty-four tons. This statue was the main object of worship. It took over three years to create.
The Wihan was more than just a place of worship. It was a symbol of power and prestige. The impressive structure was destroyed during the Burmese invasion of 1767. The chedis survived the destruction but the Wihan was lost. The three chedis standing before you today are all that remain of the original complex. They were restored in 1956.
The Wihan at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. A testament to a glorious past. A reminder of Ayutthaya’s splendor. It is a place of reverence and wonder. Take a moment to reflect on the history contained within these ancient stones.