The first class Royal Monastery of Ratchaworamahawiharn, Maha Nikai Sect. Initially called Wat Salak, this temple was founded since Ayutthaya period. It was a royal temple in Thonburi period, then renovated by Somdet Phra Bowonratchao Maha Surasinghanat in around 1783 and was renamed to Wat Nipphanaram.

In 1788, King Rama I had all the Tripitaka thoroughly reviewed in this temple, which he then renamed to Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. He eventually renamed the monastery once again to Wat Mahathat, the temple in which the Buddha relics are enshrined and the supreme patriarch resides. Ubosot (the ordination hall) is considered the country’s biggest one, large enough for 1,000 monks to gather at one time.

It is a Thai-styled building with carved, gilded and mirror decorated gables. The temple also has Maha Chulalongkorn Ratchawitthayalai University for monks located inside.