A Khmer prang
One of Ayutthaya's best preserved.
Stefan Fussan — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Radosław Botev — CC BY 3.0 pl · Ayutwratchabura050618d.jpg: Hdamm derivative work: Sodacan — CC BY-SA 3.0
A temple built by King Borommarachathirat II in 1424 on the cremation site of his two elder brothers, who killed each other in an elephant duel over the throne, leaving it to him. It stands directly across the road from Wat Mahathat. Its highlight is a Khmer-style prang, one of Ayutthaya's most beautiful and best preserved, still decorated with stucco mythical creatures. You can climb its steep steps and descend into a narrow crypt beneath, its walls bearing traces of old paintings. Precious gold treasures were discovered here in 1957 and are now shown in the nearby Chao Sam Phraya museum. Foreigners pay about fifty baht; the temple opens from morning to evening, and modest dress is required. A combined ticket of about two hundred and twenty baht covers six major temples and is valid for thirty days. Combine it with Wat Mahathat opposite in one visit, then see the Chao Sam Phraya museum for the gold that came out of this prang's crypt. Half an hour to an hour is enough.
One of Ayutthaya's best preserved.
Old paintings beneath the prang.
Gold shown in the Chao Sam Phraya museum.
Opposite Wat Mahathat, old-city island
Wat Mahathat (Buddha Head in the Tree Roots)One of Ayutthaya's most important ruins; Ayutthaya was the capital of the Siames3 minutes walk
Chao Sam Phraya National MuseumAyutthaya's most important museum, holding treasures found in the city's ruins, 13 minutes walk
Wat Phra Si SanphetAyutthaya's most important and most photographed temple: it was the royal temple13 minutes walk
Wat Lokaya Sutha (Reclining Buddha)A huge open-air reclining Buddha, about forty-two metres long, built of brick an21 minutes walkThe steps are steep and the passage narrow, so go slowly and skip it with small children or bad knees. The view from the top alone is worth it.