Wat Khae is a restored temple ruin situated within the Ayutthaya Historical Park in the Pratu Chai Sub-district.
The ruin sits on the south bank of Khlong Nakhon Ban, a canal connecting to Khlong Tho. Wat Khae stood west of the jailhouse, on which location today stands Kum Khun Phaen, a Thai-style house built based on the descriptions found in the popular Thai epic poem "Khun Chang Khun Phaen."
To its south is a place called Wang Chang (Elephant’s Palace), a location used for elephant shows and rides (heavily contested nowadays by animal lovers) exploited by the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace & Royal Kraal. The elephants are transported daily, from the area behind the elephant kraal (Phaniat) where they keep them, to the show location.
Only the restored foundations of Wat Khae remain. The monastic structure was a rectangular prayer hall surrounded by probably a low outer wall. West of the hall, it looks like there have been a Buddha image enshrined in a portico instead of the classic chedi. Some foundations of satellite chedi are visible.
Its date of construction is unknown as we could not find historical records of Wat Khae.
The temple relates likely to the nearby jailhouse and the execution area (Talaeng Kaeng), whereby death row prisoners maybe were allowed to do their last prayers before execution.
The restored foundations of Wat Khae are in geographical coordinates: 14° 21' 11.58" N, 100° 33' 28.23" E.
