Ayutthaya, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Located 5 kilometers outside Ayutthaya, the oldest historical temple in the ancient city is Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon. It was built in the 14th century and served as a filming location for the movie 'Lost in Thailand' and the 1986 version of 'Journey to the West' as the Bukin Temple in the Kingdom of Tianzhu. In 'Journey to the West,' the Bukin Temple was paved with gold bricks, and today, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is indeed Ayutthaya's most precious historical heritage. The temple was built by King U Thong, the first king of the Ayutthaya Kingdom, in 1357. The architecture incorporates Sri Lankan styles, and the main stupa, which stands 62 meters tall, was constructed by the 20th king of Ayutthaya. The main stupa has been well-preserved to this day. It was built to commemorate the victory in the war between the Ayutthaya Kingdom and Burma, hence the temple's other name, the Temple of Great Victory. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is located away from the main city area, allowing it to remain well-preserved. The main stupa is magnificent and grand, with a brick-red primitive architectural style that is both mysterious and majestic. Two giant Buddha statues flank the main stupa. The temple is surrounded by a circle of seated Buddhas. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is a well-preserved and large-scale victory temple in Ayutthaya. From the remaining stupas and temple ruins, we can gain a more intuitive understanding of the architectural characteristics of the Ayutthaya period, where Khmer architectural heritage blends with Sri Lankan styles in the Buddha statue carving techniques of the Ayutthaya period. The main stupa of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is also the tallest stupa in Ayutthaya. Climbing to the top offers a panoramic view of the entire temple and cityscape. The top of the stupa houses four gilded Buddha statues. Climbing the stupa also provides a bird's-eye view of the ancient city of Ayutthaya. Main attractions: 62-meter stupa, filming location of seated Buddha in 'Journey to the West,' largest reclining Buddha in Ayutthaya Entrance fee: 20 THB