Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit

There’s a saying among the locals that "Anyone coming to Ayutthaya has to come pay respect to Luang Pho Yai, or else they haven’t really come to Ayutthaya". That means that it cannot be anywhere else except Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit.

Although there is no conclusive evidence in any period, it is assumed that Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit was built during the early Ayutthaya period between BE1991-2145 until the 2nd Ayutthaya period of BE1767. The giant Buddha statue (Luang Pho Yai) was burned down by the enemy during a war. Later on, King Rama V paved ways for a new restoration. The area beside Phra Mongkol Bophit Temple on the east side is the original Sanam Luang. It is used as a place to build the crematorium of the monks and lords. 

There is a massive gilded Buddha statue housed in this very temple with locals worshipping every day. The seated Buddha statue has a lap width of 9.55 meters and a height of 12.45 meters. By traveling to the temple, you can take a van from Mo Chit Bus Station, stop at Mahathat temple, then rent a bike to visit both the Ayutthaya island to Wat Mongkol Bophit or hire a car as well. Or, you can skip that altogether and go with a Local Expert! 

TakeMeTour's Review

Come to Ayutthaya to pay respect to the big Buddha, eat river prawn, buy crafts, souvenirs from the arts and crafts center. There are ruins you can view adjacent to this beautiful temple, the courtyard and entire walkway up to the temple is beautiful, full of flowers and bushes. The temple is massively dazzling and blindingly white.