Located on the western bank of the Tha Chin River. It is a royal temple as evident from the royal emblem of King Rama IV on the gable of the wihan. While practicing austerity during his monkhood, the king found this temple and had it restored after his succession to the throne.
It is believed that this royal temple was built during the glory days of the town. King Katae assigned a young Mon to renovate the temple in the year 1181. A huge Buddha image known as ‘Luangpho To’ in the elegant image hall or Wihan is the center of faith for Buddhist people.
With a height of 23.46 metres, the Buddha image is seated in the European style in the posture known as Palilayaka, accepting offerings from an elephant and a monkey, the art from U-Thong Suphannaphum period.
Experts said the Buddha image must have formerly been in the gesture of giving the first sermon and was built outdoors to be seen from a great distance. This style was widely found in the pre and early Ayutthaya periods. The huge Buddha ...
Wat Phanom Yong วัดพนมยงค์
Wat Phanom Yong or the Monastery of Wet nurse Yong is an active monastery located off the city island in the northern area in Tha Wasukri sub-district. It is situated on the north bank of Khlong Mueang, the old Lopburi River.
The history of this monastery is rather vague (as most of the ancient monasteries in Ayutthaya). The monastery was likely built in the reign of King Narai (1656-1688).
The story goes that the area once was a garden owned by a wet nurse of King Narai. This wet nurse (Phra Nom) was named Phrayong. Upon her death a monastery was built and named in her honor. Its initial name was Wat Phranom Yong an aggregation of Phranom and Yong. Around 1923, someone spelled the name of the temple slightly
differently, deviating the original meaning of its original name - local people tended not to pronounce the letter "r" and the temple became known as Phanom Yong. The temple was deserted after the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767.
Wat Phanom Yong was ...
Wat Thammaram (วัดธรรมาราม)
Wat Thammaram prior called Wat Thamma or the Monastery of the Dharma (the teachings of the Buddha) is located off the city island in the western area of Ayutthaya north of Wat Kasatrathirat.
In situ are monastic structures of modern construction. Remains of the old outer wall, the crystal wall, and the lower part of the old gates still can still be seen.
It is related in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya that on this spot during the siege of Ayutthaya in 1569 Phraya Thamma had set up his stockade to defend the west side of the city of Ayutthaya against the Burmese; an important strategical position because it lies across from Sop Sawan Monastery and was in front of the Rear Palace.
The King of Hongsawadi, Bhureng Noung, planned to launch a decisive attack to seize
Ayutthaya, although Prince Thammaracha of Phitsanulok feared that an attack on the city
would cost dearly in soldiers. He decided to use a ruse instead. He summoned Phraya Chakri, who was one of ...
Wat Sala Pun (also known as Wat Sala Pun Worawihan or วัดศาลาปูนวรวิหาร in Thai, meaning “Monastery of the Pavilion of Lime”) is an active Buddhist temple located off the main city island of Ayutthaya. It is situated in the northwestern area of the ancient city, approximately 2-3 kilometers from the central historical park. Unlike many of Ayutthaya’s iconic ruins, which were devastated during the Burmese invasion of 1767, Wat Sala Pun is a well-preserved, functioning monastery and a second-class royal temple of the Maha Nikaya sect, ranked as “worawiharn” (4th grade) under Thailand’s royal temple classification system established in 1913.
The temple’s exact construction date remains unknown due to limited historical records, but its architecture and features suggest origins in the Late Ayutthaya period (roughly 16th-18th centuries), reflecting the kingdom’s architectural evolution during its prosperous middle and late eras.
The temple remains active ...
