Thai Twilight
by Maria Coulson
Title
Thai Twilight
Artist
Maria Coulson
Medium
Photograph
Description
Taken at sunset in the Chai Wattanaram Temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. The lit up temple stands out in the deep blue ski of a peaceful evening.Wat Chai Watthanaram lies on the west bank of Chao Phraya River, south west of the old city of Ayutthaya. It is a large compound and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The temple was constructed in 1630 by the king Prasat Thong as the first temple of his reign, The temple's name literally means the Temple of long reign and glorious era.
It has a central 35 meter high prang in Khmer style with four smaller prangs. The whole construction stands on a rectangular platform. About halfway up there are hidden entrances, to which steep stairs lead.
The central platform is surrounded by eight chapels which are connected by a rectangular cross-shaped passage. The passage had numerous side entries and was originally roofed and open inwards, but today only the foundations of the pillars and the outside wall still stand. Along the wall, there were 120 sitting Buddha statues, probably painted in black and gold.
After the total destruction of the old capital by the Burmese in 1767, from which Wat Chai Watthanaram was not spared, the temple was deserted. Theft, sale of bricks from the ruins and the beheading of the Buddha statues were common. Only in 1987 did the Thai Department of Fine Arts start restoring the site. In 1992 it was opened to the public.
Proceeds from the sale of this photograph goes to help orphaned and abandoned children in Colombia South America.
Uploaded
May 10th, 2014
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