Photo: Peter Cziffra

South Face of Wat Mahathat

Wat Mahathat, Sukhothai

There is a lot to see here. From above, it is a tic-tac-toe pattern such that each corner of the platform supports a stupa in Sri Vijayan style. But inbetween the corner stupas, in the middle of each face, is an additional stupa in Khmer style. These eight auxiliary stupas surround a tall, lotus-bud chedi in the center of the platform.

Each of the auxiliary stupas is fronted by a seated Buddha, which rests below it upon the platform.

The base of the platform is carved with a continuous frieze of circumambulating monks. Its right stupa encloses a fine example, partially restored, of a Sukhothai-style "Walking Buddha."

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