Ayutthaya · Temple ruins with a prang in Ayutthaya
At Wat Ratchaburana in Ayutthaya, see a large prang surrounded by galleries and the remains of halls. North of Wat Mahathat, the site preserves the story of a temple built after a royal succession struggle and gold artifacts found inside its tower.
Explore the remaining halls and large tower at the ruins, then visit Chao Sam Phraya National Museum separately to see the excavated objects. If you are interested in both architecture and royal craftsmanship, set aside time for both places. This Ayutthaya site, distinct from the Bangkok temple of the same name, offers a look at the scale of an old royal temple and the artifacts once kept inside it.
Tha Wasukri, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya 13000
The dynastic chronicles say that King Borommarachathirat II had this temple built in 1424 on the cremation site of his two elder brothers. After the brothers died together in a fight over the throne while riding elephants, their younger brother became king and established a place to honour them.
A gallery surrounds the main prang. The wihan is to the east and the ubosot to the west behind it, arranged along the same axis. The direction of the surviving floors and walls helps you read how the central tower and ceremonial spaces connected.
The Fine Arts Department explains that early Ayutthaya murals influenced by Chinese art remain in a chamber within the tower. The paintings depict past Buddhas, reflecting cultural exchange in royal temple art. The areas actually open to visitors inside the tower depend on on-site access controls.
After looting in 1956, the Fine Arts Department excavated the tower chamber and found valuable objects, including royal gold artifacts and several Buddha images. These excavated objects are kept at Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.
At the ruins, see the tower and temple grounds where objects were enshrined; at the museum, explore the royal gold pieces and Buddha images found there. The excavated objects are not all exhibited inside the tower, so allow separate time and travel for a museum visit if you want to see the craftsmanship.
For all visitors, we recommend wearing clothing that covers the shoulders and knees. A sleeved top with long trousers or a skirt that covers the knees is a good choice. Please dress modestly rather than wearing a sleeveless top or short bottoms.
According to the royal chronicles, King Borommarachathirat II ordered the temple to be built over the cremation site of his two elder brothers, who died while contesting the throne in 1424. This story helps explain the central prang’s role as a royal memorial site.
Gold royal objects and Buddha images excavated after a 1956 looting are kept at Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. At the archaeological site, you can see the prang and the remains of the halls; the excavated objects are displayed separately at the museum.
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Sharing image credit: Stefan Fussan / Wikimedia Commons · CC BY-SA 3.0
