


玛哈泰寺(Wat Mahathat)位于素可泰古城的中央,四面有沟渠环绕,从印拉第王开始建造,直到1345年完成于李泰王时期,属于皇室宗庙,寺中原有209 座塔,10处僧院,但大部份都仅剩地基而已。
目前还能辨识的主要有纯素可泰式的主塔,周围张着4座室利佛逝(Sri-vi jaya)兼锡兰式小塔和4座高棉式小塔,拥有素可泰主僧院、大城盖的主僧院、李素五骨灰院、南北两座内含9尺立佛的庙宇, 还有黄昏时可拍摄美丽剪影的大雄宝殿。
玛哈泰寺的主塔是一座上部呈含苞莲花状的纯素可泰式佛塔,这是李泰王时重建的,原来是一座高棉式佛塔,李泰王不想受高棉影响,遂把原来的高棉塔包起来,外面盖成纯素可泰式的佛塔,这种不破坏前人(朝)作品的例子在泰国时时可见,因为泰人相信破坏庙宇或佛像是对神不尊敬的,所以都是用把建筑物包起来或盖起来,外面再建新的这种方法,因此建筑物都会愈来愈“有容乃大”,玛哈泰寺中的另一个例子就是主塔前的主僧院前还有一个主僧院,这就是到了大城时期,大城国王为了遮住旧有的素可泰主僧院,所以在它的面前又盖了一座。
每年十月水灯节时,晚会打上特别的灯光,还有素可泰舞蹈表演,精彩万分。
Wat Mahathat Ayutthaya was built in the early period in 1374. The main stupa is Pang shape made of laterite but in the later periods was resored with brick.
The construction of Wat Mahathat was begun during the reign of King Borommarachathirat I in 1374 A.D. but was completed during the reign of King Ramesuan (1388-1395 A.D.) When King Songtham (1610-1628 A.D.) was in power the main prang (Khmerstyle tower) collapsed. The restoration work on the prang was probably completed in the reign of King Prasatthong (1630-1655 A.D.) During the restoration the height of the prang was considerably increased.
Wat Mahathat was restored once again during the reign of King Borommakot (1732-1758 A.D.) when four porticos of the main prang were added. In 1767 A.D. when Ayutthaya was sacked the wat was burnt and has since then been in ruins.
Wat Mahathat was a royal monastery and has been the seat of the Sangaraja, the head of the Buddhist monks of the Kamavasi sect, since the time of the Mahathera Thammakanlayan, who was a contemporary of King Borommarachathirat I, who built the wat.