Panorama taken from the ruins of Wat Mahathat in Ayutthaya. This picture shows the approach to the temple phrang, which is lined with rows of headless Buddhist statues, some of which are clothed with orange sashes.

Wat Mahathat - Ayutthaya visitor guide showing a virtual tour of 'Wat Mahathat' linked to an interactive map with local and travel information. 360° panoramas from Central Thailand.

Wat Mahathat is also known as the 'Temple of the Great Relic'. It was one of the most important temples of ancient Ayutthaya. Wat Mahathat was built in the 14th century during the Early Ayutthaya period and was the home of the Supreme Patriarch or leader of the Thai Buddhist monks. As with many temples, it was sacked during the invasion by the Burmese when the royal court moved from Ayutthaya to Bangkok.

The prang of Wat Mahathat is 46m high, making it one of the more imposing in the city. The remains of many Buddha statues are found here, one in this picture is decorated with an orange sash. One of the most famous, and most photographed, things on Wat Mahathat is the head of a Buddha statue which is trapped in the growing roots of a banyan tree. Also on the site are numerous chedis and other prangs, among which is an octagonal chedi with a truncated spire built in Ceylonese style.

Wat Mahathat is high on the visitor agenda as one of the main tourist attractions in Ayutthaya. Entrance is ticketed.

The entrance to Wat Mahathat is along Chikun road near the western end of Ho Rrattanachai. Zoom in on the Google map of Ayutthaya to see.