Temples In Thailand

Wat Mahathat which is a royal temple of the first grade is situated to the north of the Rayal Palace. It was built in the Ayutthaya period and called Wat Salak. Before the first Grand Council to revise the Buddhist tripitaka (the Buddhist scriptures) was convoked in A.D.1788 , King Rama I renamed the temple Wat Phra Sri Sanphechayadaram and later rename it “Wat Mahathat”

King Rama I arranged a meeting of high-ranking monks to set up an examination system for monks and novices in A.D.1803. During to the reign of King Rama V, he’s donated the wealth of the Crown Prince who had passed away for the renovation of the temple.

The temple is the center of the Mahanikai school of Buddhism, and as such is a center of monastic learning for members of the sect from throughout Southeast Asia. This is an advanced institute of learning for monks, organized in the same way as a university. It was founded by King Rama V with the intention to provide an educational institute for monks of Mahanikai fraternity, in the same way as Maha Mongkut Ratchawitthayalai was for the monks in the Dhammayattika fraternity. It was the first time that the word Witthayalai or University was used in Thai vocabulary.

For the tourist who is passionate about amulet collecting. This is another amulet market. On every weekend, the market stalls are set up on the grounds to compliment the daily vendors of traditional medicines and herbal potions.