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Wat Mahathat (Center of old city center)

Wat Mahathat known for one of the best and largest ruins in Sukhothai which consists of a main chedi, assembly hall, ordination hall, 200 smaller chedis and two eight-meter tall standing Buddhas

 

Wat Mahathat, situated in the heart of the town, is the largest ruins in Sukhothai Historical Park. This temple was previously served as the royal palace and administrative capital for the Sukhothai Kingdom in the 13th century.

 

There are actually more than 200 smaller chedis and two magnificent sitting Buddhas within Wat Mahathat. Two mandapas with massive standing Buddhas, known as the Attharot, remains on both sides of the primary stupa. They display the abhaya (have no fear) mudra. These original Sukhothai period Buddhas are eight-meter tall and made of stucco-covered brick. Both standing Buddhas are placed on raised platforms which makes them look even taller. Sometime the locals might placed some mini Buddha statues beside the Buddha’s feet as an offering while praying.

 

The central stupa has a lotus bud-shaped anda, characterising the art of Sukhothai, surrounded by eight chedis. Among these eight chedis, there are four Thai towers (with bell-shaped stupa) and four Khmer towers (non bell-shaped stupa) surround the central stupa.

 

The base of the main chedi is decorated with reliefs depicting Buddhist disciples with hands clasped in procession. They are portrayed walking clockwise round the stupa, the typical ritual practice; their robes appear to flutter in movement. Stone Inscription No. 1 says “At the centre of Sukhothai there are a vihara, a golden Buddha Image, Phra Attharot Buddha Images, large Buddha Images, medium Buddha Images”. The golden Buddha image refers to the magnificent bronze sitting Buddha Image in the posture of subduing Mara to be enshrined in the royal vihara of Wat Mahathat. And the Phra Attharot refers to both eight-metres standing tall on the adjacent sides of the main chedi.

 

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Sukhothai
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Entrance path to Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Stupas surrounding the Ordination Hall of Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Walking through the ruins of Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Assembly hall which allow one to pray to the sitting Buddha in Wat Mahathat
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Front view of the sittting Buddha in Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Sittting Buddha in Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Left view of the sittting Buddha in Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Sitting Buddha with the posture of subduing Mara, Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Side view of the sittting Buddha in Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Stairs to the Ordination Hall of Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Stupa and Assembly Hall at Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Ordination Hall with 2 stupas at the background, Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Buddha in posture of Subduing Mara, Ordination Hall of Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Sitting Buddha of Ordination Hall with a stupa at the background, Sukhothai
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Golden nails of the sitting Buddha of Ordination Hall, Sukhothai
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Stupa of Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Beautiful ruins of Wat Mahathat
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Base of a large chedi adorned with stuccoed figures of elephants
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Base of a large chedi adorned with stuccoed figures of devil like creatures
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A sitting buddha at the front of a chedi, Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Side view of a sitting buddha at the front of a chedi, Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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A devil-like figure beneath the Buddha, Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Magnificent sitting Buddha, Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai.jpg
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Remaining ruins of Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Central group of Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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A single monk walking through and exploring Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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The central group with Mandapa of Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Images of Buddha's disciples around the base of the central stupa group, Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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Main chedi and base decorated with Buddha disciples walking with their hands clapsed together in salutation
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12m standing Buddha named Attharot in Mandapa, Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai
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