A Trip to Ayutthaya

 

Explore the beauty of Thailand. A trip to Ayutthaya in April 2010. After an approximately 70 minutes ride from Bangkok to Ayutthaya early in the morning of April 16, 2010, we had our breakfast in an eatery near Wat Mahathat. Opposite of it stands Wat Rachaburana. 

Wat Rachaburana was built in 1424 and it is splendidly restored. The towers (both rounded Khmer-style prangs and Sukhothai-style pointed chedis) have even retained some of their original stucco. 

In the two crypts, excavators in 1958 found bronze Buddha images and votive tablets, as well as golden objects and jewelry, many of which are displayed in the Chao Sam Phraya Museum.

There are also murals, rows of seated Buddhas, standing disciples, and Jataka (tales from the Buddha's former lives) scenes in the four niches, as well as a frieze of heavenly beings and some Chinese scenes.

You can climb inside the prang for nice views and a little exhibit. The mysterious staircase down, leads to two unrestored rooms with original paintings still visible on the walls.

 (Reference: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/thailand/ayutthaya-wat-ratachaburana.htm)

In 1424 A.D. King Intharachathirat passed away. His two sons, Chao Aye Phraya who reigned over Suphanburi, and Chao Yi Phraya who reigned over Sanburi, met in battle as each desired the throne. This took place at the approach to the Pa-Than bridge and ended with the death of both sons. A third son, Chao Sam Phraya came down from Phitsanulok and acceded to the throne where upon he declared his intention to organize a funeral for his father and his two brothers. Afterwards he ordered the building of a wat, namely Wat Ratchaburana, at the site of the cremation and at the place where his brothers fought and died he had two chedis created in which to keep their ashes.

In September of 1957 A.D. looter dug into a two-level crypt inside the main prang (Khmer type tower) and stole a great quantity of valuable material. Police arrested some of these looters. The Fine Arts Department proceeded to excavate the site and found Buddha images and many artifacts made of gold. Among these were a large number of votive tablets made of gold and lead. In 1958 A.D. the Fine Arts Department built a stairway so that one could go down into the crypt and look at the mural paintings which were also found there. Since the Buddha images and votive tablets discovered in the crypt were very numerous, the ministers of the goverment approved giving some of them to people who had contributed to the building of the Chao Sam Phraya Nation Museum, much of the collection in which was found at Wat Ratchaburana.

                                 

Reference: Wat Thai Temple (Temple of Thailand & ancient remains information)
(http://wat-thai-temple.blogspot.com/2007/04/wat-ratchaburana-ayutthaya.html) Dated April 15, 2007 

 This is only one of the many old temples in Ayutthaya. Every temple has its own history. A day is not enough to explore the beauty of Ayutthaya known as the Old City of Thailand.

More photos of the places we've been in Ayutthaya.