Wat Yai is famous throughout Thailand for its golden sculpture of the Buddha called the Phra Buddha Chinnarat (Thai: พระพุทธชินราช). Many Thai people consider the Phra Buddha Chinnarat to be the most beautiful Buddha portrait in Thailand. It depicts Buddha in the posture of overcoming Mara (Thai: ปางมารวิชัย), also called Mara submission. A stone inscription indicated that he was molded over 700 years ago by a King Mahathamaracha Lithai of Sukhothai dynasty. Several faithful copies of the Phra Buddha Chinnarat are displayed in other temples, including Wat Benchamabophit in Bangkok and Wat Saranat Thammaram in Rayong. Also, the Phra Buddha Chinnarat is depicted on the official seal of the Phitsanulok Province.
The temple's large vihara has an immense main entrance with mother-of-pearl inserts donated by King Boromakot in 1756. Beyond the vihara is a Khmer style prang, the inside of which can be accessed via a stairway. The Prang is said to enshrine relics of the Buddha.
The Buddha Chinnarat National Museum, located on the temple grounds, houses a sizeable collection of Sukhothai period art.
Festivals often take place on the temple grounds, including the annual Phra Buddha Chinnarat Fair. Also, on the first weekend of each October, the Phitsanulok Dragon Boat Races take place outside the temple in the river.
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