Ayutthaya is a famous historical destination and a UNESCO World Heritage site in Thailand. Thailand offers many must-see temples in Ayutthaya. In ancient times Ayutthaya was the capital city of the kingdom of Siam for over 400 years. The city was famous for its majestic palaces, elegant temples, commerce, and culture.
In 1767 Burmese ransacked Ayutthaya, and the temples were plundered and deprived of their valuables. Being near Bangkok , it is an easy spot to reach. Ayutthaya, the religious hub of the past includes numerous ruins and temples of the past and becomes one of the reasons to visit Thailand.
It is unlikely to visit all the historical temples in Ayutthaya, but this article will suggest to you some must-see temples in Ayutthaya, to make your trip amazing and memorable.
Table of Contents
Must See Temples in Ayutthaya
Wat Yai Chaimongkhon
Wat Yai Chaimongkhon is one of the most visited temples in Ayutthaya, located on the bank of the Pasak River before the eastern entrance of the inner city. The place is an ancient royal monastery, and famous for its reclining Buddha and over 62–meter inverted ball-shaped chedi. and remains open from 8 am to 6 pm. Originally constructed on a vast area, as a forest temple school during King U-Thong’s region in 1357.
The exceptional construction features the early Ayutthaya region. The main chedi offers impressive looks with its rows of numerous Buddha images. To visit this temple you need to pay an entrance fee of 20 Baht from 8 am to 5 pm daily .
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Wat Phra Si Sanphet is located in the Historical Park of Ayutthaya Thailand, and served as the Royal Monastery during 1350 – 1448. This Royal temple is one of the most visited temples in Thailand and is famous for its three large chedis containing the ashes of three Ayutthayan kings.
Two mandapas once stood on the empty place between these chedis for sorting religious relics and Buddhist scriptures. Take a virtual tour of the place as one of the must-visit temples in Ayutthaya. Wat Phra Si Sanphet served as a spiritual nucleus of the Thai people and a historical place for a long time.
This royal monastery is famous for its artwork and archeological significance. Being the royal monastery no monk is allowed to reside here. The ruins of Wat Phra Si Sanphet still show the glory of Thailand. At present, this temple serves as the symbol of the province of Ayutthaya. You can visit this majestic place daily from 8 am to 5 pm with a petty entrance fee.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
This royal temple is located in the Historical Park of Ayutthaya on the banks of the river Phraya. This spectacular temple dates back to the 17th century and is one of the most famous places in Thailand and Ayutthaya. This temple was a remarkable example of the Khmer architectural style.
The central prang symbolizes the center of the universe, the chedis as the 4 continents and the outer universe. There are two huge images of Buddha placed in each corner chedi. The galleries include 8 smaller decorated chedis with beautiful murals.
This serene place makes Wat Chaiwatthanaram one of the must-visit destinations in Ayutthaya, where you can visit daily from morning to evening after paying a smaller amount for entry. We suggest you witness the memorable sunset here.
Wat Phra Mahathat
This ancient temple is located in front of the Grand Palace and is famous for the Buddha’s head entwined in the roots of a majestic big banyan tree. This royal temple is considered one of the oldest and most significant temples of the Ayutthaya Kingdom built during 1370 – 1388.
Wat Phra Mahathat housed the holy relic of Buddha. The temple also hosted numerous significant royal ceremonies during the Ayutthaya period till 1767, when it was badly damaged by fire.
This temple offers marvelous structures like pagodas, small temples, a royal hall, Bodhi tree murals, and the iconic head of the Buddha image in the roots of a majestic big banyan tree. The place is open from morning to evening with an entrance fee of 50 Baht. Details here.
Wat Phanan Choeng
This 14th-century esteemed temple is famous for its amazing 19-meter-tall gold-plated and oldest statue of Buddha in Ayutthaya. In addition to the mighty Buddha statue, the temple also offers wood carvings, murals, and some other small statues. Wat Phanan Choeng is an active place of worship and one of the must-see temples in Ayutthaya.
Pilgrims from Thailand and all over the world are attracted to this temple for praying and paying respect. The place also includes another attraction: as this area was once under the influence of Chinese merchants, they made it a commercial center and brought Chinese goods including gold, silk, porcelain, etc.
There is also a dedicated Chinese shrine to the Ayodhya Queen on the river side of the main chapel. It is believed that paying respect to the Queen’s shrine will fulfill the wish of searching for a soulmate. Wat Phanan Choeng is a free-of-cost attraction with different opening hours.
Wat Ratchaburana
This ancient temple is believed to have been constructed in the Sukhothai period, located across the road from Wat Mahathat, with its preserved prang. There is a story behind the construction of this temple. King Intharach had three sons, when he died in 1424, the two oldest sons claimed the throne and fought each other, and both were badly wounded and died.
It was Chao Sam Phraya; the third son of the king, who became the king. He built Wat Ratchaburana in the memory of his elder brothers and cremated them here, he also dedicated two pagodas to them. The central prang of Wat Ratchaburana is the place where the archaeologists found three levels in a crypt inside the tower.
The first included murals and tablets from commoners. The second included the royal family’s articles. The third, is where there would have been the relics of Buddha. The articles found on this third level have been stolen. However, the recovered articles are displayed at the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.
Wat Phutthaisawan
This hidden ancient gem of Ayutthaya, is located on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River, in the outskirts of the city. This place is not as crowded as that of other temples. The majestic temple of Wat Phutthaisawan was built by King U-thong during 1351 – 1369.
This elegant temple includes rows of Buddha images and a prang with the main Buddha image. The peaceful gardens of Wat Phutthaisawan make it a serene destination and one of the must-visit temples in Ayutthaya.
As there is no proper transportation or ferry service to reach this temple, you can visit this place with Chai Wattanaram, because both the places are just a few kilometers away from each other. Wat Phutthaisawan offers visiting its newly constructed parts of the temple, and the ancient whitewashed prang. Similarly, behind the prang’s courtyard is the reclining Buddha image.
Wat Phu Khao Thong
Wat Phu Khao Thong is the largest Buddhist complex or “Temple of the Golden Mount”, located near the city center and northwest of Historical Park. Originally constructed in the late 14th century, it is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a restored temple. The iconic white tall chedi of Wat Phu Khao Thong gives an amazing view of this area.
The temple is surrounded by rice fields and a small lake. This present structure has undergone some modifications since 1569. The place includes a Buddha’s footprint from Saraburi and a statue of King Naresuan. This location is a famous place among the visitors exploring Ayutthaya who avoid crowded places.
Wat Suwan Dararam
This magnificent temple is an active monastery, located in very good condition near the joining point of the river Pasak and river Chao Phraya. Wat Suwan Dararam has undergone many restorations since its construction in the Ayutthaya period.
The temple is a great attraction for pilgrims across the world and is famous for the mural paintings in Ubosot and Viharn. There is a golden Buddha image inside the ubosot, with intricate and traditional Thai wood carvings.
The temple also offers paintings depicting the previous lives of the Buddha, explains the story of Subduing Mara, and different scenes of battles of King Naresuan the Great. You will find a temple visit as an amazing thing to do in Ayutthaya.
Wat Na Phramen
Wat Na Phramen is one of the ancient but intact temples in Thailand, located opposite the Grand Palace in Ayutthaya. When the Burmese army attacked Ayutthaya, they used Wat Na Phramen temple as their headquarters, so the building was ruined. The architectural construction of the temple is of typical Thai style. In addition, the highly decorated carved wooden baluster windows and gable boast the Middle Ayutthaya period.
The temple is also iconic for its fully ornate and beautiful Buddha image in royal attire and shows the historical style of the Ayutthaya period. Similarly, this place also includes a historical Buddha image of black stone. You can consult the full history of Wat Na Phramen. A foreigner can visit this majestic temple of Ayutthaya daily from 08 am to 6 pm paying an entrance fee or 20 Baht.
Recommendations to visit Ayutthaya Temples
Ayutthaya is the city of both culture and Temples. Though the smiling people do not make you worry during the city tour. You can easily visit almost all the temples, but you should know the Temple dress code in Ayutthaya or Thailand.
You will frequently hear some words during your visit to the Buddha temples or the ancient ruins in the city. You should know these words for a better understanding of these ancient structures.
Religious vocabulary
Bin tha baat: (Monks) Receiving alms from locals
Chedi: a stupa or Buddhist monument.
Khmer: constructions made during the period of the Khmer Empire.
Mondop: a square or rectangular building where religious articles and scriptures are kept.
Pagoda: A multi-tiered tower in Buddhist constructions.
Phootha: Buddha
Phootha satsana: Buddhism
Phra sohng: Monk
Prang: A square-based structure with a top of pyramid-shaped.
Sak yant: religious tattoo
Satsana: Religion
Ubosot: main hall in a temple for important religious ceremonies, and religious performances of the monks.
Viharn: temple hall with enshrined Buddha images, also a religious activity performance place for laymen and monks.
Wat: Temple
Guided Tours
This article aims to guide you to the utmost about Buddha temples in Ayutthaya. However, you can get a guided tour for a deeper knowledge of these historical places, the city, and the culture. Some good-ranked guided tours will cater to you with the individual features and historical significance of each temple.
Full-day guided tour: You can visit almost all the famous Buddha temples with this full-day hassle-free guided tour.
6 hours Bike tour: You can visit UNESCO World Heritage temples in a 6 hours Bicycle tour accompany by a well-versed guide.
Ayutthaya bike tour after Sunset: Explore the city after the Sunset on a 3-4 hours bike tour. This tour will show you another magical dimension of the temples.
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