The Wat Mongkhon Bophit is a temple situated to the south of Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the Royal Palace ruins in Ayutthaya. It is famous for the Phra Mongkhon Bophit, which is a giant bronze statue of the Buddha, sitting in meditation. The metal sculpture has drawn comparisons to the Buddha statue in Wat Phanan Choeng. Measuring nearly seventeen metres in height, the statue was originally placed outside the Grand Palace, which is found to the east, but was relocated upon the orders of King Songthom. He also had a mondop (a pillared hall or pavilion) built to contain the statue.
However, during the reign of King Phra Chao Sua, the mondop was destroyed in a fire started by a lightning storm. The fire also damaged the spectacular statue. Another structure was built to house the statue, and the bronze statue itself underwent some reconstruction. The Fine Arts Department carried out extensive re-constructive work on the sculpture in 1957, closely following the original design, and the Buddha statue was entirely covered in gold in 1990, to celebrate the 60th birthday of the Queen. Although many believe that the current sculpture lacks the fine craftsmanship of the original, it is still quite impressive.
The temple is believed to have been built in 1538, under the patronage of king Chairachathirat. The ancient temple is still a striking structure, with its bright red roof that slopes down like a pyramid. The gigantic entrance is dominated by colossal white pillars. The temple grounds is beautifully landscaped, featuring a well kept lawn and potted plants sprouting brightly coloured flowers.
Ayutthaya is a UNESCO World Heritage Site located roughly eighty five kilometres from Bangkok. It once served as the capital of Siam, and housed many splendid buildings, although now it is only the ruins that remain. Tourists visiting Thailand with little time on their hands should consider taking a Bangkok cruise tour. The Anantara Cruises Thailand offers luxury Bangkok cruises that will enable tourists to visit the country’s most important landmarks in the span of a few days. There are several tours that take travellers around Ayutthaya, stopping at various points of interest. The cruises offer an easy and comfortable way of sightseeing.
