Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit

Temple in Ayutthaya

CC BY-SA 2.0 / Photo Dharma

During the early Ayutthaya period, royal cremation ceremonies were held at various locations, which were later transformed into new monasteries. In 1538 AD, King Chairachathirat commissioned the construction of Wat Chichiang and a chedi near a cremation site, along with the creation of a Buddha image, which is now known as Phra Mongkhon Bophit.

In 1610 AD, King Songtham moved the Phra Mongkhon Bophit Buddha image from the east to the west and ordered the construction of a mandapa to house it. This move was accompanied by the decision to centralize cremation activities near Wat Chichiang, making the original location a designated cremation site. During King Sua’s reign (1697-1706 AD), the mandapa was struck by lightning, causing it to collapse and the Buddha’s head to break off. The king later rebuilt the mandapa as a viharn, with further restorations taking place under King Borommakot (1732-1758 AD). Unfortunately, the viharn was destroyed during the Burmese invasion.

The Phra Mongkhon Bophit image underwent its most recent restoration in 1955 AD, with a later project in 1990 AD to cover the statue with gold leaf, approved by the Fine Arts Department and completed in 1992. The temple’s main attraction is the grand bronze Buddha statue, which stands at an impressive height of 12.45 meters with a lap width of 9.55 meters. Representing the iconic pose of subduing Mara, this monumental image symbolizes the Buddha’s triumph over temptation and enlightenment, making it one of the largest and most revered Buddha statues in Thailand.

The Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit appears in our Complete Guide to Visiting Ayutthaya!

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