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Sunday, February 10, 2008

Historical Sites - Wat Suthat

Wat Suthat

Sukhothai Period ImageWat Suthat is one of the city's finest temples with its magnificent carved doors and gilded Buddha images. Construction of Wat Suthat got under way during the reign of King Rama I and continued through the reigns of the next two monarchs. The wooden doors to the main 'viharn', featuring intricately carved tropical vines, plants and animals, are thought to have been designed and carved by King Rama II himself. Both the ceremonial and main halls of the temple are huge in size, each housing galleries of gilded Buddha images. The 8-meter bronze Buddha statue in the viharn is the largest surviving image from the Sukhothai period (14th century).


Notice the varied selection of pagodas and statues in the temple compound, many of which were brought from China as ship ballast in the early 19th century. The small park area around the temple offers pleasant respite from the streets. Many shops in the immediate vicinity of the temple stock a range of Buddhist ecclesiastic supplies.

See also the Giant Wing

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