Ratchaburi - Wat Mahathat

Of the numerous ancient and modern wats to be found in Ratchaburi, Wat Mahathat, which probably gained its appearance in the Lopburi period, is the one most worth seeing. Older parts date from the 9th/10th c., while stucco decoration and murals were mainly added during the Ayutthaya period. The large prang, to which two smaller ones have been added, displays beautiful stucco ornamentation. The murals, dating from about 1500, inside the central prang denote a highpoint of Thai art and are some of the oldest ever retained. They depict pictures of Buddha on a yellow background in friezes arranged one on top of another. Their flowing lines and a certain naturalness of movement are striking. The bot houses several very attractive statues of Buddha in the Dvaravati style.