AYUTTHAYA HISTORICAL RESEARCH





HISTORY OF AYUTTHAYA



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Wat Chai Watthanaram


20-8-2026


Update - Wat Chai Watthanaram, one of Ayutthaya’s most iconic temples, is introduced as both a grand architectural achievement and a symbol of royal legitimacy. Built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong, its Khmer-inspired prang and symmetrical layout reflect Buddhist cosmology, while its later history of decline and restoration underscores the resilience of Ayutthaya’s heritage. The page sets the stage by weaving together history, design, and symbolism, making it a compelling gateway into the temple’s enduring significance.


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Wat PA MO


21-8-2026


Update - Wat Pa Mo is a vanished temple in Ayutthaya, known only through historical maps and canal references, with its site overlapping with Wat Thong Pa Mo Noi.

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Wat Maha Lok


7-8-2026


Update - Wat Maha Lok, or the Monastery of the Great World, is still used by the Buddhist clergy. The monastery grounds are expansive, and monk quarters are scattered throughout. The temple is off the city island on the Phaniat peninsula, just east of Wat Sam Wihan in the northeastern area, in the Hua Ro Sub-district. It lies along the new Lopburi River, opposite Wat Khae (on Ko Loi) and was strategically positioned at the confluence with the short waterway leading to the Pa Sak River.

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wat kuti sung


7-8-2026


Update - Wat Kuti Sung, or the Monastery of the High Dwelling of the Monk, is situated off the city island in the northern area of Ayutthaya, in the Hua Ro Sub-district. The monastery was located between Wat Si Fan and Wat Maha Lok, along the west bank of the present Lopburi River. Thus, the monastery was accessible by boat. Presently, people are living behind its ruins and the river.

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AYUTTHAYA HIGHLIGHTS



Wat Ratcha Burana - also called the Monastery of the Royal Repairs or the Monastery of the Royal Restoration - is located on the city island in the central area of Ayutthaya in Tha Wasukri Sub-district. The temple is situated on the corner of the present Chikun Road and Naresuan Road, opposite Wat Maha That and near the former Pa Than bridge.

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Wat Phra Si Sanphet is situated on the city island in the Ayutthaya Historical Park in the Pratu Chai Sub-district. It has been registered as a national historic site by the Fine Arts Department since 5 March 1935 CE. This monastery was the most important temple of Ayutthaya and was situated within the Grand Palace grounds. It served as a model for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.

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Wat Phra Ram is a restored temple ruin located in the Ayutthaya Historical Park in Pratu Chai Sub-district situated close to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet in a swampy area called Bueng Phra Ram. The monastery was constructed on the cremation site of the first Ayutthaya monarch, King Ramathibodi I (reign 1351-1369 CE).

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Wat Maha That, or the Monastery of the Great Relic, is located on the city island in the central part of Ayutthaya in the Tha Wasukri Sub-district. The temple is situated on the corner of the present Chikun Road and Naresuan Road.


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Wat Phukhao Thong, or the Monastery of the Golden Mount, is located off the city island in Thung Phukhao Thong, nearly three kilometres northwest of the centre of the city of Ayutthaya in the Phukhao Thong Sub-district. Thung Phukhao Thong is bordered on the west by the present Chao Phraya River, which occupied the bed of the Bang Kaeo River in the mid-19th century.

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Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, or the Great Monastery of Auspicious Victory, is located off the city island in the southeast of Ayutthaya in the Phai Ling Sub-district. In the past, it bears other names such as Wat Pa Kaeo, Wat Chao Phraya Thai and Wat Yai Chaiya Mongkhon. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is situated in or just outside an ancient city known as Ayothya.

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Wat Phutthaisawan, or the Monastery of Buddhist Kingship, is located in the southern area of Ayutthaya in the Samphao Lom Sub-district, on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River and east of Khlong Thakian. It is opposite the mouth of Khlong Chakrai Yai. The temple complex faces east towards the Khu Cham and is bordered on the north by the Chao Phraya River.

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Wat Chai Watthanaram, or the Monastery of the Temple for the Advancement of Victory, as Richard Cushman translate it, is a restored ruin situated off the city island in the western area of Ayutthaya in the Ban Pom Sub-district. The large monastery is located on the west bank of the present Chao Phraya River in front of the Siriyalai Palace, which is directly across the river.

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