Wat Chaiwatthanaram: A Khmer-Style Gem by the Chao Phraya River

Built in 1630 by the Royal Family! The most spectacular sunset viewing spot in Ayutthaya!

⛩️ Historical Legacy:
· The first royal temple built by King Prasat Thong in 1630
· A merit-making temple dedicated to the king's mother
· A sacred site for royal religious ceremonies and cremations
· Witness to the 400-year glory of the Ayutthaya Kingdom

🗼 Architectural Marvel:
· A majestic 35-meter-high Khmer-style central prang
· Perfect symmetry with four corner towers and eight surrounding pagodas
· 120 Buddha statues lining the cloister (most now damaged)
· Inspired by the Buddhist cosmological concept of Mount Meru

💔 Turbulent History:
· Severely damaged during the Burmese invasion in 1767
· Left abandoned, plagued by looters, and Buddha statues were decapitated
· Restoration efforts began in 1987 by Thailand's Fine Arts Department
· Reopened to visitors in 1992

From royal splendor to desolate ruins, Wat Chaiwatthanaram tells the millennia-old tale of Thailand's ancient capital through its stones.

Post by Eliz Guei | Jul 31, 2025