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Wat Chaiwatthanaram 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 its towers stand tall and surprisingly well preserved on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
The History of Wat Chaiwatthanaram
The temple dates back to 1630AD, when King Prasat Thong 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.
Outside wall and towers
Wat Chaiwattanaram is rectangular in shape, with one main 35m high central prang (tower) and eight lesser prangs surrounding it, making it beautifully symmetrical.
The central prang (tower)
Inside the temple
Inside the walls of the temple is a gallery of Buddha images, with many statues lining the walls and murals and stucco artwork in the interior of the towers. 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.
Buddha statues line the walls of the temple
A Buddha Statue inside one of the smaller prangs
Headless Buddha Statues
A pathway connects the towers
Beautiful stone carvings line the wall around the central prang
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 Wat Chaiwattanaram to be really well preserved considering its history, and it has a beautiful location on the river.
Looking at some chedis behind one of the smaller towers
Have you been to Ayutthaya? What was your favourite ruin?
I really liked this temple complex too, it’s very impressive. There weren’t many tourists when i was there though, so I wonder if a lot of people know about it?
Yeah there weren’t many tourists when I was there either, which made it really peaceful to walk around. I think most people just stick to the sites on the main island.
I have some photo from Ayutthaya. The Buddha head inspired me in a special way . The nature connect with the art: http://www.photo-travels.org/foto/16/153/.
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Hi Ania, Nice photos. I raelly liked that Buddha head as well
I’ve been here! Yay!
Yay! 🙂
Wow. Just wow. These photographs are stunning… I would love to visit someday. I love those places that just aren’t on the mainstream tourism radar, they make for some epic explorations!
Thanks Dayna! I actually thought that it would be packed with tourists, as Ayutthaya is a popular stop on the tourist trail, but this particular ruin just didn’t have many people it all. It was great 🙂
Stunning! So different than photos I have seen of other temples.
Hey Stephanie, it certainly is stunning. I really love history and old ruins like this, so I found Wat Chaiwatthanaram to be something special.
I love the pictures and it must have been great with so few tourists about.
Cheers Rob, I’m glad you liked them. It was great to be away from the hordes of tourists.
When I went to Bangkok last summer I didn’t have enough time to visit Ayutthaya. But as an ancient ruins enthusiast, and after looking at your photographs, I believe this is my kind of place and chances are I am going to love it there.
Hi Bama, if you like ruins then you will love Ayutthaya. They are scattered all over the place, and some of them are really quite impressive. Cheers
Great shots. I love the saturation of the colours.
Thanks Deb!
Soo beautiful. I have not been there yet, but I certainly want to now! 🙂
Hi Cheryl. I’m glad you want to go, it’s a beautiful place 🙂 Cheers
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[…] Wat Chai Wattanaram was built in the 17th Century by King Prasat Thong. It was left to ruin after the Burmese defeated and destroyed the city in the 18th Century. The wat seems to be perfectly symmetrical and is one of the most impressive sites in Ayutthaya. […]