Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit, Ayutthya

Just coming out of Wat San Sanphet on the right side is a beautiful wat. Infact, it is the first thing you notice as soon as you enter Wat San Sanphet premises.
We decided to vist Wat San Sanphet first.

Historical background:
King Chairachathirat  ( 1534- 1547) built the Wat Chi Chiang Sai and had a bronze image of Buddha, Phra Mongkhon Bophit installed there. The wat got hit by lightening thus damaging it. It remained like this for many years. King Songtham (1610-1628) moved the image a little westwards and built a mondop on top of it.
During the reign of King Sua (1703-1709), a lightening destroyed the mondop and the fire damaged the building and also the image. The King ordered construction of new viharn and restoring the image of Buddha.
In 1767,during Burmese attack, the viharn was again damaged badly.

view of the Wat from east, from the side of Wat Sanphet

As is customary, we removed our footwear and went inside.

 An east facing huge golden image of Buddha was in front of us. The image is said to be 12.45 meters high and 9.55 meters high. The base on which the image sits is 4.5 meters in height.

Moving clockwise, there were three other images of Buddha in four cardinal directions.

As we turn there are many images of Buddha covered with gold leaves. Applying gold leaves on the image of Buddha is supposed to bring merits to devotee.

images with gold leaves stuck on them

praying in front of image

a family praying before the main image

Walking towards the viharn from Wat Sanphet, I saw this man making beautiful things. I could not help myself from not stopping and admiring his work.