Wat Phraya Tikaram is located off the city island in the eastern part of Ayutthaya, in the Phai Ling Sub-district. The monastery is on the south bank of Khlong Kramang (1). The canal’s name changes to Khlong Ban Bat (2) as it continues west of Wat Phraya Tikaram to the confluence with Khlong Dusit (3) and ultimately joins the new Pa Sak River beside the city island. To the east, at the junction with Khlong Hantra, runs Khlong Khao Mao, a tributary from the Pa Sak River originating in Tha Ruea.
Wat Thung Yi (defunct) stands in the west, while Wat Krasang (active temple) is in the east.
Wat Phraya Tikaram is an active monastery formerly known as Wat Phra Yat, Wat Phop Yat. The sanctuary is shown on a 1916 CE map as Wat Phra Phop.
There is a legend that there lived a young woman with great looks in the village of Phai Ling. The king heard of the beauty of this woman and went to the village to patronise her. Her relatives met and bid farewell when the young woman entered the palace. When the young woman became the queen, she visited her relatives and ordered them to build a temple in the area where the relatives were meeting and named it ‘Wat Phop Yat’. The temple, thus, is said to have been established in the Ayutthaya period, but I have my doubts.
The monastery has all the required structures for providing services to the lay community, and most of the buildings appear to have been designed in the Rattanakosin period.
The ordination hall, built on an east/west axis, enshrines a sandstone Buddha statue in Maravijaya attitude, called Phra Phuttha Jom Muni Sri Ayutthaya, dating to the Ayutthaya period. The ubosot has triple-layered roof frames and an intricately carved gable, partially decorated with mirrored tiles. The walls of the ubosot are painted yellow, and sema stones (old and new) mark the boundaries. The ordination hall has several votive tablets on display.
The main chedi is bell-shaped and painted gold. The bell tower is in front of the ordination hall. It has windows in each several and is flanked by standing Buddha images.
The vihara contains the statues of Luang Pho Klan, Luang Pho Aun, and Luang Pho Phao, former head monks of this temple.
Standing and walking Buddha images are a mirrored tiles theme at Wat Phraya Tikaram (which is uncommon in Ayutthaya). One of the most remarkable features of this monastery is a large outdoor Buddha image reflecting the Sukhothai style, as it is in a walking pose.
Wat Phraya Tikaram is in geographical coordinates: 14° 21' 21.45" N, 100° 36' 5.97" E.
