Wat Mahathat is one of the central ruins of Ayutthaya Historical Park. Its early prang, monastery remains and Buddha head enclosed by tree roots show how the old capital's religious landscape survives as an archaeological site.
Tourism Authority of Thailand describes Wat Mahathat as one of the important temples of Ayutthaya and dates its construction to 1374. The prang is considered one of the earliest Ayutthaya-era prangs, with Khmer influence in its form.
The temple was damaged during the destruction of Ayutthaya in 1767. The Fine Arts Department now manages the historical park, where conservation, archaeology and public interpretation matter as much as the famous photograph of the Buddha head. Do not climb or touch the remains.