Wat Chaiwatthanaram — Attraction in Ban Pom Subdistrict Administrative Organization

Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a temple in the city of Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand. It is one of Ayutthaya's best known temples and a major tourist attraction. Located on the bank of the Chao Phraya River, to the west of the city island is Wat Chaiwatthanaram. Built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong to honor his mother, Wat Chai Wattanaram was conceived as a replica of the Angkor temple.

One of the most visited historical site of Ayutthaya, Wat Chaiwattanaram rests on the bank of the Chao Phraya river, to the west of the city island. The temple was ordered to built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong to honor his mother, featuring the architectural style influenced by Angkor temple in Cambodia-its unique feature is a large, central prang (Khmer-style pagoda) surrounded by smaller prangs, symbolizing Mount Sumeru, the gods' mountain according to Hindu belief. The lighting at night makes the temple even more exotic and beautiful. It has a central 35-meter-high (115 ft) with four smaller prangs. The whole construction stands on a rectangular platform. About halfway up, there are hidden entrances, to which steep stairs lead.

The central platform is surrounded by eight chedi-shaped chapels (Meru Thit Meru Rai), which are connected by a rectangular cross-shaped passage (Phra Rabieng). The passage had numerous side entries and was originally roofed and open inwards, but today only the foundations of the pillars and the outside wall still stand. Along the wall, there were 120 sitting Buddha statues, probably painted in black and gold.

The eight chedi-like chapels are formed in a unique way. They had paintings on the interior walls, the exterior ones decorated by 12 reliefs depicting scenes from the life of Buddha (Jataka), which must be "read" clockwise. Just fragments of the paintings and the reliefs survived. In each of the rectangular chedis were two sitting Buddha statues, and in each of the four middle chedis was one big sitting Buddha statue, also lacquered in black and gold. The ceiling over those statues was of wood with golden stars on...

Wat Chaiwatthanaram (Thai: วัดไชยวัฒนาราม) is a Buddhist temple in the city of Ayutthaya Historical Park, Thailand, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, outside Ayutthaya island. It is one of Ayutthaya's best known temples and a major tourist attraction. One of the most visited historical site of Ayutthaya, Wat Chaiwattanaram rests on the bank of the Chao Phraya river, to the west of the city island. The temple was ordered to built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong to honor his mother, featuring the architectural style influenced by Angkor temple in Cambodia-its unique feature is a large, central prang (Khmer-style pagoda) surrounded by smaller prangs, symbolizing Mount Sumeru, the gods' mountain according to Hindu belief. The lighting at night makes the temple even more exotic and beautiful. The Wat Chaiwatthanaram structure reflects the Buddhist world view, as it is described already in the Traiphum Phra Ruang, the "three worlds of the King Ruang", of the 14th century: The big "Prang Prathan" that stands in the centre symbolizes the mountain Meru (Thai: เขาพระสุเมรุ - Khao Phra Sumen), which consists the central axis of the traditional world (Kamaphum - กามภูมิ). Around it lie the four continents (the four small Prangs) that swim in the four directions in the world sea (นทีสีทันดร). On one of the continents, the Chomphutawip (ชมพูทวีป), the humans live. The rectangular passage is the outer border of the world, the "Iron Mountains" (กำแพงจักรวาล). The admission fee is 10 baht for Thais and 50 baht...

During our trip to Ayutthaya, we made a stop at Wat Chaiwatthanaram, and I was pleasantly surprised to find that we didn’t need to buy tickets. The temple is located right by the side of the road, and the short fence allows you to take in the stunning views without having to go inside. This was our last stop, and honestly, we were pretty exhausted by then. Instead of exploring further, we opted to visit a nearby cafe where we enjoyed ice cream molded after the temple’s design – a sweet and creative way to end our day.

For fans of Thai drama, Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a must-visit. The temple served as a setting for a popular Thai drama, which adds an extra layer of excitement if you’re familiar with the show. The drama beautifully captures the temple’s grandeur and historical significance, making the visit even more special for drama enthusiasts.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram is part of the Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple, built in the 17th century, reflects the grandeur of Ayutthaya's ancient capital with its intricate designs and rich history. It’s a place that truly showcases the architectural beauty and cultural heritage of Thailand.

When we visited, the temple was undergoing some restoration work, with construction ongoing to preserve its beauty for future generations. Despite the scaffolding and workers, the temple’s magnificence was still very much evident. If you’re interested in Thai history and culture, Wat Chaiwatthanaram is definitely...