Wat Suwan Dararam Ratchaworawihan (วัดสุวรรณดารารามราชวรวิหาร)

* Wat Suwan Dararam Ratchaworawihan (วัดสุวรรณดารารามราชวรวิหาร): The temple is located inside the city wall to the southeast of the town island near Pom Phet. It was formerly known as “Wat Thong” and was constructed by King Rama I’s father in the Ayutthaya period. When King Rama I was crowned as the first king of the Rattanakosin period, he had the temple re-established and renamed it “Wat Suwan Dararam” to compliment his parents’ names.

The temple’s Phra Ubosot – Ordination Hall – is of the late Ayutthaya style, being situated on a boat-like concave foundation. Its gable depicts the God Vishnu on Mount Garuda. Inside, there are murals of angels on the upper parts and scenes from the Jataka stories on the lower parts of the side walls. The front wall to which the principal Buddha image is facing depicts the scene of the Buddha Subduing Mara from the life of the Lord Buddha, with the Mother Earth Goddess in the centre. Unlike the Phra Ubosot, Phra Wihan – Lecture Hall – does not have a concave foundation and has pillars with a cap of elongated lotus petals. It was built in the reign of King Rama II. Inside, there are fine murals depicting the story of King Naresuan the Great painted in the reign of King Rama VII, which are the prototype of Don Chedi Monument in Suphan Buri.

Thaen Phra Si Maha Pho: A platform with lotus petals decoration supporting the sacred Bodhi tree, the shoot of which was brought from India by King Rama IV. There is a brick belfry of western style nearby. The 2-tiered square structure with a pointed arch door downstairs and a bell tower upstairs is believed to have been built in the reign of King Rama IV during a major renovation.

To get there, use the same route as Chanthara Kasem National Museum, turn right at the T-junction for another 1 kilometre.

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Phra Chedi Sisuriyothai (เจดีย์พระศรีสุริโยทัย)

* Phra Chedi Sisuriyothai (เจดีย์พระศรีสุริโยทัย), (U-Thong Rd) is a white and gold coloured chedi built as a memorial to a previous queen. Set in a small, well-kept gardens, it is the memorial for the first heroine in Siamese history, is located in Ko Mueang to the west. Among various places of interest within the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, this ancient place is of much importance as a proof of honour that ancient Siamese society gave to Thai women.

In the reign of King Rama V, there was a quest for the historical sites as mentioned in the Royal Chronical. The exact location of Wat Sopsawan was identified with a large indented stupa which was renamed by King Rama VI as Chedi Phra Si Suriyothai.

In 1990, the government assigned the Fine Arts Department and the National Security Command to restore the chedi, which had deteriorated over time. Fortunately, on 20 May 1990, some antique objects were found such as a white rock crystal Buddha image in the posture of subduing Mara, a chedi replica, and a golden reliquary. These ancient objects were brought to be under the care of the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.

No entry charge.

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Wat Kasattrathirat Worawihan (วัดกษัตราธิราชวรวิหาร)

Wat Kasattrathirat Worawihan (วัดกษัตราธิราชวรวิหาร) is the monastery located outside Ko Mueang, opposite Chedi Phra Si Suriyothai, on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. Its former name was Kasattra or Kasattraram. It is an ancient temple of the Ayutthaya period with a main Prang (stupa) as its centre.

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Wat Lokkayasutha (วัดโลกยสุธา)

Wat Lokkayasutha (วัดโลกยสุธา): This monastery is over a kilometre behind the Grand Palace adjacent to Wat Worachettharam. Accessible by the road behind the Ancient Palace, passing Wat Worapho and Wat Worachettharam. It has a large reclining Buddha, made of brick and covered with plaster, approximately 42 metres long. Many large hexagonal pillar ruins near the image are believed to be the ruins of the Ubosot.

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Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopitah

* Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopitah (Sri Sanphet Rd) is next to Wat Phra Si Sanphet and houses a large bronze cast Buddha image. It was originally enshrined outside the Grand Palace to the east. King Songtham commanded it to be transferred to the west, where it is currently enshrined and covered with a Mondop. Later in the reign of Phra Chao Suea, the top of the Mondop was burnt down by a fire due to a thunderbolt. Then, the King commanded a new building be built in the form of a big sanctuary (Maha Wihan) to cover the image in lieu of the former Mondop. During the second fall of Ayutthaya, the building and the image were badly destroyed by fire, the one currently seen was renovated but does not have as beautiful craftsmanship as the previous ones. The open area east of the Sanctuary (Wihan) was formerly Sanam Luang, where the royal cremation ceremony took place (This practice is now held at Sanam Luang, the Phramen Ground of Bangkok). No entry charge.

* Ancient Palace (access through Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, no additional entry charge) is mostly low-lying ruins set in large grounds, with only a few free standing buildings remaining. It was originally called the Grand Palace, the residential palace of every king was located close to the city wall of Ayutthaya. A road passes by from Chantharakasem Palace, which is two kilometres away to the north. Important buildings inside the Grand Palace compound are:

Wihan Somdet Hall (พระที่นั่งวิหารสมเด็จ): The top of this hall has been decorated in a unique style of architecture called Prang. It has longer space in front and rear gabled rooms, and shorter space in the side gabled rooms. It was surrounded with a three-sided cloister and utilized for various royal ceremonies such as coronations. This was the first building over constructed in Ayutthaya to be affixed with gold leaf.

Sanphet Prasat Hall (พระที่นั่งสรรเพชญ์ปราสาท): This is the middle building construted in the same design as Wihan Somdet Hall. Kings used it to welcome foreign envoys and visitors.

Suriyat Amarin Hall (พระที่นั่งสุริยาสน์อมรินทร์): A four-gabled roof building constructed of sandstone and brick; it is close to the riverside city wall. It was used as a place to witness the royal barge processions.

Chakkrawat Phaichayon Hall (พระที่นั่งจักรวรรดิ์ไพชยนต์): With a three-gabled roof, is on the inner eastern city wall in front of the Grand Palace. It was used to view processions and military practice.

Trimuk Hall (พระที่นั่งตรีมุข): This is located behind the Sanphet Prasat Hall. It is believed to have been the residential area of the consort members and also the garden was the royal relaxing place.

Banyong Rattanat Hall (พระที่นั่งบรรยงค์รัตนาสน์): Formerly known by the name of “Phra Thinang Thaisa”, it is located in the back compound of the Grand Palace on an island in a pond. It has four-gabled roof architecture. Remains of the throne halls that are left to be seen at present, were constructed in the reign of King Borommatrailokkanat and used to serve as royal residences for all later kings. Open daily during 6.00 a.m. – 6.00 p.m. Admission is 30 Baht each. A package ticket is also available at 180 Baht each, covering admission to temples and museums within the province and valid for 30 days, including Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the Ancient Palace Complex, Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Phra Ram, Wat Chai Watthanaram, Chao Sam Phraya National Museum and Chantharakasem Museum. For more details call Tel. 0 3524 2501, 0 3524 4570.

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