Ayutthaya · Outdoor reclining Buddha ruins in Ayutthaya
At Wat Lokayasutharam, a large reclining Buddha lies beneath the open sky, without a hall roof. This Ayutthaya ruin offers a view of the image’s face and long body outdoors, a different setting from the indoor reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok.
After looking closely at the Buddha’s expression and taking photos, walk around the remains of the old temple. Foundations of large buildings, galleries and a prang remain and give you a sense of the temple that once enshrined the image. As this is an outdoor visit, prepare for sun or rain so you can explore the reclining Buddha and ruins at a relaxed pace.
The pin marks the place, not necessarily its entrance, ticket office or vehicle drop-off point.
Pratuchai Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya 13000
A Reclining Buddha about 28 meters long and 5 meters high lies in a broad open area in western Ayutthaya. The image is made of brick covered in plaster; note the lotus-shaped support beneath its head and its long outstretched body. Unlike the indoor Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok, this one can be viewed outdoors in its entirety.
The Tourism Authority describes this image as depicting the Buddha entering nirvana at the age of 80. Look at the face from nearby, then step back to follow the outline all the way to the feet. This helps you take in both the reclining pose and the remains of the old temple grounds.
This place is also known as Wat Phranorn, or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha. The provincial government says the Ayutthaya chronicles mention King Borommakot’s route here to pay respect to the Reclining Buddha. It was an important temple site near the former royal palace and Wat Phra Si Sanphet.
The grounds also contain traces of large buildings and galleries, as well as the main tower, or prang. After seeing the Reclining Buddha, follow the foundations and the direction in which the galleries once ran. They show that what may now look like an open space was once a large temple complex with several buildings.
The Reclining Buddha you see today was restored in 1956. Its present surface is not unchanged from when the old Ayutthaya temple was first built, so consider the restoration date of the image separately from the history of the temple remains around it.
The Tourism Authority notes that no hall roof or intact building remains around the Reclining Buddha. This is an archaeological site where you view the whole image outdoors rather than entering an indoor hall. If it is sunny or raining, plan for the time you will spend outside.
For all visitors, we recommend wearing clothing that covers the shoulders and knees. A sleeved top with long trousers or a skirt that covers the knees is a good choice. Please dress modestly rather than wearing a sleeveless top or short bottoms.
The Reclining Buddha at Wat Pho in Bangkok is inside a hall, while the one at Wat Lokayasutharam in Ayutthaya lies in an open-air archaeological site without a roof. Here, you can see the whole image, open sky behind it and the remains of the old temple around it.
The Reclining Buddha visible today was restored in 1956. Traces of large buildings, galleries and a prang also remain at the old temple site, so you can see the restored image alongside the locations of the ancient architecture.
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Sharing image credit: Nord794ub / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 4.0
