: WatChaiwatthanaram was the last of the ruins that I explored in the ancient Siam capitol of Ayutthaya, Thailand, but it was definitely the most impressive. It is actually located outside of the main island that Ayutthaya is built on, and it’s towers stand tall and surprisingly well preserved on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River.
Slind2: When King Prasatthong had it built in memory of his mother. Built in the typical Khmer style, the temple has many similarities to Angkor Wat, and it is thought that it was perhaps also built to commemorate the king’s victory over Cambodia.
WatChaiwattanaram is rectangular in shape, with one main 35m high central prang (tower) and eight lesser prangs surrounding it, making it beautifully symmetrical.
On the angled base of Phra Prang Prathan graced by large Buddhist statues, sets of stairs climbed to what was once an ordination hall where ceremonies were performed and to a gallery that symbolized seven mountains.
Two restored Thai-style chedi next to the Chao Phraya River interred the ashes of King Prasat Thong’s mother.
After the sacking of Ayutthaya by the Burmese in 1767, the temple was used as an army camp before being left to ruin, and many of the Buddha statues and artwork have been damaged.
There are also several chedis (stupas) in the temple grounds, and there was a lot of the temple to explore. Although much of the temple is damaged like all the ruins in Ayutthaya, I found WatChaiwattanaram to be really well preserved considering it’s history, and it has a beautiful location on the river.
While some of the temple’s splendor remains, many of its structures, statues, artwork, and the royal boat landing at the river’s edge disappeared ages ago. Enough of it has been preserved to give visitors of glimpse of its former glory.