Thailand > Ayutthaya > Wat Yai Chaimongkhon

'Great Temple of Auspicious Victory'

Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, or the 'Great Temple of Auspicious Victory,' is a beautifully restored and fully functional monastery from the historical Ayutthaya period of Siam (Thailand).

The viharn (sermon hall) was built in 1357, but the principal chedi (holy monument, pictured above) wasn't constructed until 1592 to commemorate King Naresuan the Great's battle victory against the invading Burmese crown prince.  According to literature of the period, the King slew the prince in single combat atop a war elephant.

   

After hundreds of years of use, deep grooves are worn into the stone steps of the main chedi.

A precarious ladder snakes up the back of the principal chedi where its specially-fitted traditional yellow cloth is tied.

The walkway surrounding the top of the chedi overlooks the grounds, which include structures in many stages of dilapidation and restoration.  

Some structures on the Wat Yai Chaimongkhon grounds are almost 800 years old. 

Like the chedis, the complex's buddhas are all respectfully draped with traditional yellow cloths.

The Wat Yai Chaimongkhon complex is a historical gem, which brings a 300-year progression of traditional Thai architecture to life.

by Sarah Bond-Yancey

For more views of incredible Thailand, check out the complete Wat Yai Chaimongkhon album.

Thailand > Ayutthaya > Wat Boromphuttharam

'Temple of the Grand Buddha'

After days of endless planes, trains, buses, taxis and tuk-tuks, I woke up in Ayutthaya city, the capital of the former Kingdom of Siam (now Thailand).

A 7am meandering walk down the "sidewalks" of Ayutthaya brought me unexpectedly to Wat ('Temple') Boromphuttharam.

July through October is rainy season (aka fewer-tourists-season) in Thailand.  The time of year paired with the time of morning left this temple completely deserted.  It's gates, however, were warmly open to welcome in local Buddhists.

I crept in, shyly at first, drawn through the treed grounds by flashes of yellow through leaf and brick.


This quiet morning temple was my first glimpse of the subtle and refined beauty of Thai Buddhist culture.

The roof, having crumbled away long ago, opens the temple to the sky.  The morning light pours in, casting dramatic shadows across rough brick walls.

 

A delicate cotton string connects the Buddha's hand to an offering of marigolds and chrysanthemums.

Other offerings range from figurines and woven leaf sculptures to sugar cane and eggs.

Elegant yellow and gold cloths are gently tied around the Buddha to denote his sacredness and bring good fortune.

 

In the traditional style of the region, the temple is made of brick layered with cement.  Repair and preservation attempts result in the structure's striking patch-work facade.

There is a singular and inspiring beauty in a building whose purpose in design is still being fulfilled after hundreds of years of use.  

Thai temples are not relics.  They are functional and cohesive necessities for Thai culture and society.  It took me months to realize it but that is the true beauty of Thailand.  What has been labeled 'ancient' elsewhere is, in these spaces, still alive.

by Sarah Bond-Yancey

For more views of incredible Thailand, check out the complete Wat Boromphuttharam album.