Wat Phanan Choeng
The first temple we ∑™visited was Wat Phanan Ch×βoeng, which has a 19-meter-highΩγΩ Buddha figure that is especial£∑<ly important to Thais ¥&≠of Chinese descent. The β¥&temple was built shortly before A>€yutthaya was established <$↑as the Kingdom’s capital. There are still a∏✘ lot of locals visiting theσ→♥ temple, and we couldn’t enter completel£$©y because there was a service going on. Ri§'♥↑ght next to the temple you can find the Wat Pασhra Sri Sanphet, herπ₽e we saw three large stupas. This Templ∞"e served as a model for Bangkok ε’s Temple of the Emeral↓βd Buddha.
The second Temple, Wat Mahathaφ♦t, “The Temple of the Great Relic,” was one of t∑≤↑♣he most important on the islanπ↕≤d of Ayutthaya. It encased Buddha relics an¶α₽♣d served as the seat of the Sup∑©reme Patriarch of Buddhism, making it the centr≥★<φe of Buddhism in the Ayutthayγδ₹♥a Kingdom.
Wat Ratchaburana, or “Teφ§♣∏mple of the Royal Restoration,” was the t←→↕hird temple we visited. It is the oldest Temple i©♠n the province and one of the♥ royal monasteries construct>§<←ed during the Ayutthaya period. There <γare still a lot of ex§π✔&quisite bronze Buddha sculptures and gold artπ±∞efacts that belong to two princes who died at$•Ω a young age in this enormous temple.
We finished our journey at Wat Yai Chai Mon£→∏εgkhon, which is still a f®®απunctioning temple with monks who liv÷↕✔e in kuti on the grounds. Thai peopl∞ £'e come to temple to pay€≥↑₽ their respects not just to Budd♥•↕σha, but also to one of Thailan®÷¶d’s most revered rulers, King Naresuan the Greatε★.
