Srivijaya Period

The heir of Dvaravati culture in southern Thailand, as far as the present day town of Hua Hin, was the empire of Srivijaya, which ruled large parts of Malaya from the 8th to the 13th century. Here Mahayana Buddhism played a predominant role. The art of Srivijaya is eclectic, reflecting its relations with the Mon states, Cambodia, South India and Java. Of the architecture of this period only a few remains are left. In Chaiya there is a stupa in Wat Phra Borom Dhatu which despite repeated restorations still clearly preserves the character of the original building. From Chaiya also comes a magnificent bust of Avalokiteshvara in the National Museum in Bangkok.