Wat Phu Khao Thong (Golden Mount)

Out in the flat plain of rice fields and fish ponds northwest of town rises the stark white chedi of Wat Phu Khao Thong. The name literally translates to "Golden Mount."
The site has been a temple since 1569, but the Thais have not always been happy about that. The original chedi on the site was erected by the Burmese during a brief occupation of Ayutthaya. When they were finally run out of the city, Buddhist law prohibited the Thais from pulling down this reminder of Burmese occupation.
Modern statue of King Nareusan, in front of the Golden Mount.
The Thais had to put up with it for nearly 200 years until the chedi finally collapsed due to lack of maintenance. King Borommakot promptly put up the chedi more or less as you see today on the Burmese base, just in time for the Burmese to attack again and completely destroy Ayutthaya.
The chedi was recently completely restored and a huge statue of King Nareusan was installed on a marble base about 100 yards away, on the road leading up to the temple.
You can climb up to the base of the chedi for a view over Ayutthaya in the distance. On a good day you can spot the needles of Wat Phra Sin Sanphet. On the north side, facing the new statue of King Nareusan, a cramped passage curves down and back up to the center of the chedi, but without a light you won't see anything.

Wat Ratchaburana in Ayutthaya

Wat Ratchaburana was built by King Borom Ratchathirat II at the place where both his brothers died (they killed each other) during a fight for the vacant throne of Ayutthaya. After both his brother had died, King Borom Ratchathirat II became the King. As such, Wat Ratchaburana was built during the early Ayutthaya period. The prang was the centerpiece at the temple compound.The vault of Wat Ratchaburana became known to the public some decades ago, and looters broke into the vault in 1957. The looters were apprehended, but a lot of the stolen goods were never recovered. Later on more than 100,000 votive Buddhist tablets were found, as well as gold jewelry with a combined weight of more than 100 kilograms.The vaults inside the main prang also displayed mural paintings, depicting the previous lives of the Buddha. Unfortunately, over the last few years these images have deteriorated a lot. Only very few visible images are left.
A large amount of the golden artefacts and treasures found at Wat Ratchaburana are displayed in the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. This museum also houses a nice collection of Buddha images in different styles, and wooden door panels from different temples in Ayutthaya.

Wat Phutthaisawan

Almost due south of the old town, on the south bank of the Chaophraya River, is the very old temple of Wat Phutthaisawan. With its freshly whitewashed classically styled prang, the temple is easy to overlook. Most guidebooks do, but don't you make that mistake. The temple, with its skewed architecture, is quite interesting.
The temple is said to have been built in the 14th century by King Ramathibodi I, the founder of Ayutthaya, on the site where he lived before setting up the capital on the other side of the river. A monument to King Ramathibodi I, King Nareusan and King Ekathotsarot can be seen in the parking lot of the temple.
The cloister of Wat Phuttaisawan, with its slanted columns.
Somewhere along the line, the temple's plan has been flipped around. If you go past the temple entrance and turn into a small parking east of the temple, you can see the old walls of the ubosot and some old chedis, showing that the entrance and temple grounds used to be on the east side of the prang.
Today, you enter the temple complex on the west side, through a narrow walk between two buildings. The older building, on the right, with its pointed gothic windows, is said to have been the building where the kings of Ayutthaya stayed when visiting the temple. It is supposed to have some great murals, but was closed on our last visit.
Old chedis near the ubosot.
Just past this building is the current ubosot, marked by large crumbling sema stones. Although newer than the prang, the ubosot is still obviously very old. The Buddha image is not particulary remarkable, but the interior columns play a neat trick. We had to do a double-take. The columns are slanted inwards, giving a false sense of height and length to the relatively small ubosot.
Opposite the ubosot are several small chedis bordering the path to the courtyard containing the prang. The courtyard is just large enough to contain the prang, which has a large sanctuary on the eastern side (another clue that the temple has been turned around).
The columns of the courtyard are also slanted inwards, more so towards the middle and then straightening up at the corners. Click on the photo above right to see the effect in the full size picture.
Returning back on the other side of the ubosot, you will see some small buildings and a chedi. The larger building is labeled as the king's dressing room, while the smaller is said to be a store for the king's costumes

Wat Phra Ram

Right across from Wat Phra Si Sanphet, with its classic Ayutthaya style chedis, is the towering prang of Wat Phra Ram. Built in 1369, the temple was restored in the 15th century and extended throughout the Ayutthaya period.
Close-up of the prang at Wat Phra Ram.
Although you now enter the temple complex on the western side, the original temple faced east, as you can tell from the ruins of the portico on the eastern side. The shells and foundations of many wiharns and other buildings can be seen around the grounds. Only a little of the original stucco work remains, but there's enough to get an idea of how rich the detail must have been.

Wat Na Phramane

Local known as Wat Na Phramane, The temple was built in A.D.1503 by Angel indra inthe Reign of King Ramathibodee II, The tenth throne of Ayutthaya, named Wat Phramerurachikaram It is the royal Aram of the third rank, Ordinary type.The temple has marked a historical event in the reign of King Maha Jakrad. He chose it As a meeting place to stop the war in A.D.1563. And another event happened in A.D.1760 when King Alongphay Of Burma come to attack Ayutthay. The burmese soldiers had instaled cannon At Wat Na Phramane and Wat Hassadawad (Wat Chang). King AlongPhaya commanded the troop And fired the cannon by himself. Un fortunately the cannon exploded and The King was seriously Injured. So the troop had to be withdrawn the the noethern direction No sooner had the troop left Tak than The King passed away.With the sanctity of Phra Buddhanimitwichitmara Molee Srisanphet Boromtrilokanat, The Main Buddha image in the Phra Ubosot been believed to help save Ayutthay from It's enemy always. Furthermore the Budd still in the samecondition as it was once as Well as the temple which is the only one not sacked by the burmese. Hence, It's worthwhile Visiting and appresiating its historical splendour.
Place and Ofject of Attraction
1. Phra Buddhanimitwichitmara Molee Srisanphet Borom Trilokanat, The main Buddha image cast In bronze then lacquered and covered with gold plate is in the style of Subbuing Mara clad in Kingly decoration. It is nine soks (arm-ength measure) wide from one end to the other of its Lap and six metres high. It is one biggest decorated Buddha image Built in the early period of Ayutthaya. It's shape is so splendid with the explicit name of holiness and sacedness to respect For those of the three worlds.
2. Phra Khandhararat, Dvaravati period, Is the biggest stone Buddha image aged around 1,500 year Old with 1.70 metres wide in lapand 5.20 metres high. The image was carved out of green sand Stone in sitting position on the seat of first preaching style It was recorded that it was removed from Sri Lanka when Phra Ubalee and the Buddhis delegates Of Siamese sect went to establish Buddism in Sri Lanka. Then Phraya Chaiwichit removed it her From Wat Maha tat In the IsIe of Ayutthaya.
3. Phra Ubosot was built in the early Ayutthay architectural style. From the outside it looks like the Shape of a samp an with 16 metres in width and 50 metres in length. The gable of the front Entrance was carved out of teak wood in the design of God Naraya on Garuda stepping on Naga's Head. On both sides of naga's head are two Fahu. The scene is surrounded by 26 praying angels. From the inside there are two roes of sixteen octagonal posts with lotus cornice which is typical Of Ayutthaya style. The ceiling was also carved out of teak wood in the pattern of beautiful Complex layers of stars.
Local known as Wat Na Phramane, The temple was built in A.D.1503 by Angel indra inthe Reign of King Ramathibodee II, The tenth throne of Ayutthaya, named Wat Phramerurachikaram It is the royal Aram of the third rank, Ordinary type.The temple has marked a historical event in the reign of King Maha Jakrad. He chose it As a meeting place to stop the war in A.D.1563. And another event happened in A.D.1760 when King Alongphay Of Burma come to attack Ayutthay. The burmese soldiers had instaled cannon At Wat Na Phramane and Wat Hassadawad (Wat Chang). King AlongPhaya commanded the troop And fired the cannon by himself. Un fortunately the cannon exploded and The King was seriously Injured. So the troop had to be withdrawn the the noethern direction No sooner had the troop left Tak than The King passed away.With the sanctity of Phra Buddhanimitwichitmara Molee Srisanphet Boromtrilokanat, The Main Buddha image in the Phra Ubosot been believed to help save Ayutthay from It's enemy always. Furthermore the Budd still in the samecondition as it was once as Well as the temple which is the only one not sacked by the burmese. Hence, It's worthwhile Visiting and appresiating its historical splendour.
Place and Ofject of Attraction
1. Phra Buddhanimitwichitmara Molee Srisanphet Borom Trilokanat, The main Buddha image cast In bronze then lacquered and covered with gold plate is in the style of Subbuing Mara clad in Kingly decoration. It is nine soks (arm-ength measure) wide from one end to the other of its Lap and six metres high. It is one biggest decorated Buddha image Built in the early period of Ayutthaya. It's shape is so splendid with the explicit name of holiness and sacedness to respect For those of the three worlds.
2. Phra Khandhararat, Dvaravati period, Is the biggest stone Buddha image aged around 1,500 year Old with 1.70 metres wide in lapand 5.20 metres high. The image was carved out of green sand Stone in sitting position on the seat of first preaching style It was recorded that it was removed from Sri Lanka when Phra Ubalee and the Buddhis delegates Of Siamese sect went to establish Buddism in Sri Lanka. Then Phraya Chaiwichit removed it her From Wat Maha tat In the IsIe of Ayutthaya.
3. Phra Ubosot was built in the early Ayutthay architectural style. From the outside it looks like the Shape of a samp an with 16 metres in width and 50 metres in length. The gable of the front Entrance was carved out of teak wood in the design of God Naraya on Garuda stepping on Naga's Head. On both sides of naga's head are two Fahu. The scene is surrounded by 26 praying angels. From the inside there are two roes of sixteen octagonal posts with lotus cornice which is typical Of Ayutthaya style. The ceiling was also carved out of teak wood in the pattern of beautiful Complex layers of stars.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram in Ayutthaya

Wat ChaiwatthanaramAyutthaya
Wat Chaiwatthanaram is an imposing monastery located in the west of Ayutthaya on the Chao Phraya River. It was built by King Prasat Thong in 1630 and its architecture is similar to that of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and it may have been built to commemorate the King’s victory over Thailand’s neighbour. The temple comprises a main ‘prang’ (or tower) which is 35 meters tall surrounded by a series of smaller prangs situated alongside a gallery containing over 100 Buddha images. The temple is spacious and its well-kept grounds are peaceful. Well worth a visit if history and culture are your interest.
Details: Admission to the temple is 20 Baht and opening hours are 08:00 to 18:00.
How to get there: You can reach the temple’s ruins by bicycle if you have hired one, and a Tuk-Tuk fare will be in the 30 Baht range from the town centre. Long-tail boat services are available from Chankasem Palace at around 350 Baht for the full one-hour round trip.

Wat Phra Si Mahathat of Thailand

The province of Phitsanulok is situated on the banks of Nan River in the lower northern part of Thailand. The province is approximately 377 kilometers from Bangkok. The entire province comprises mainly of flatland with mountain ranges towards the east, which are home to lush green national parks and waterfalls.
Phitsanulok was one of the important communities during the Khmer rule and it earned a lot of prosperity during the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. Between 1463 and 1487, King Borom Trailokanat of Ayutthaya used to permanently live in the province, thus making it another royal capital.
Today Phitsanulok is a major tourist attraction that draws people not just from Thailand but also from around the world. People come to see the many tourist sites including the Wat Phra Si Mahathat.
The locals call Wat Phra Si Mahathat Wat Yai and it is situated on the east bank of Nan River within the limits of Phitsanulok town, the provincial capital. It is believed that the viharn of the temple is home to one of the most beautiful and elegant Buddha images in Thailand. The Buddha image is made from bronze in the Sukhothai style of architecture. It is officially known as Phra Phutthachinarat. Owing to its large size, many foreign and local visitors come to the temple daily to admire and pay respect to the image. Every year in late January, a celebration is held in the temple to honor Phra Phutthachinarat.
Another attractive aspect of the temple is its large pearl inlaid doors, which are at the entrance of viharn. It is believed that doors were crafted in the late Ayutthaya period around 1756. The temple also houses another image known as Phra Attharot, which is an 8-meter tall standing image of Buddha. Originally the Phra Phutthachinarat was housed in a large viharn but the roof is no longer there. So, the bronze image now stands in open air surrounded by large columns of the collapsed viharn.