Wat Phu Khao Thong, A Majestic, Time-Weathered White Stupa

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Thailand

Different from temples in the city

4.3

Introduction

About 2 kilometers north of the Palace ruins, there is a paddy field called the Golden Mountain located next to Highway 309. Adjacent to this paddy field is a Buddhist temple called the Temple of the Golden Mountain, which was first built in 1387 by King Ramkhamhaeng, the fifth monarch of the Sukhothai kingdom. The most striking feature of this temple is the Buddha stupa, which stands at over 80 meters tall. Standing on top of the stupa, one can overlook the city of Ayutthaya, and the famous Golden Mount in Bangkok was actually modeled after it. In 1569, to commemorate the Burmese King Bayinnaung's capture of Ayutthaya, the stupa was renovated in Khmer-style, while the rest of the buildings were rebuilt between 1744 and 1745, during the reign of the twentieth king, in the Thai architectural style. In 1956, to celebrate the 2500th anniversary of the Buddhist calendar, a 2.5-kilogram golden pagoda was put on the top of the stupa, but it was soon stolen and now it is replaced with a gold-plated one. The base of the stupa is octagonal, with a circumference of 50 meters, and its foundation follows the architectural style of the late Ayutthaya period. The tall tower is divided into three levels, each with a gallery about 2 meters wide, and there are stairs all around, allowing visitors to climb up to the topmost gallery. After climbing up 81 steps, one can see the memorial hall which commemorates the achievements of the king. From the top of Wat Phu Khao Thong, one can enjoy a panoramic view of the countryside and overlook the bustling streets of Ayutthaya. The tower tilts slightly to one side, but it is this unique shape that makes it even more captivating.