Wat Phanan Choeng in the historical park of Ayutthaya

According to legend, tears flowed from the eyes of the painting shortly before the destruction of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767.

The temple is located on the banks of the Pa Sak River, opposite the southeastern tip of the historic island. It can be reached by riverboat.

There is a magnificent view of the monastery, which also has a boat landing.

19-meter-high Buddha statue

The temple's main attraction is the enormous Buddha statue. Constructed of brick and mortar, the statue, named Phra Chao Phanan Choeng, depicts the Buddha in the pose of conquering Mara, also known as "Invoking the Earth as Witness".

The richly gilded image in the U-Thong style is also known as Luang Pho To. It is flanked by two worshipping disciples, Sariputta and Moggallana, who were the Buddha's closest followers.

The statue was erected in 1324, several decades before the founding of Ayutthaya. Upon its completion, it stood outdoors, as the Viharn had not yet been built.

Today, the Phra Chao Phanan Choeng is kept in a large assembly hall, the Viharn Phra Phanan Choeng. Its walls are decorated with hundreds of niches containing small Buddha images.

The story of Princess Soi Dok Mak

According to legend, Phra Chao Sai Nam Phung, a king who ruled before the founding of Ayutthaya, wanted to marry the daughter of a Chinese emperor.