Wat Phra Si Mahathat, Buddhist temple in Anusawari, Thailand
Wat Phra Si Mahathat is a Buddhist temple on Phahonyothin Road in the Anusawari district, built around a central pagoda holding relics of the Buddha. Smaller structures near the main tower serve as repositories for the ashes of people who contributed to the nation.
Construction started in 1941 under Prime Minister Plaek Phibunsongkhram, who first conceived the site as a temple of democracy. The project followed the 1932 revolution that reshaped Siam's political system.
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The site lies on Phahonyothin Road and can be reached via Wat Phra Sri Mahathat BTS station or several bus routes from central Bangkok. The grounds open during daylight hours, with early mornings offering quieter conditions for a visit.
The grounds hold five offshoots of the Bodhi Tree and soil from Buddhist sacred sites, collected during a ministerial journey to British India in 1940. These elements link the site to the historical roots of Buddhism in India.
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