AYUTTHAYA HISTORICAL RESEARCH





HISTORY OF AYUTTHAYA



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End March 2021, Yahoo Inc. abandoned its offline SiteBuilder in favour of an online version. I have built this website for over ten years with the old version. As no tool had been provided to migrate the old version to the new platform, the website containing about 1000 pages needs to be rebuilt from scratch. The old web pages remained published on the Internet, so I created links to the most important sections in the division named "The Old Website". The sections in this division will remain posted as long as all the pages of that section are not renewed. Bear in mind that I cannot make any changes to the published pages of the old website. If you like the website or want to remain informed on Ayutthaya's history, join AHR on Facebook.



Recent posts



THE ELEPHANT KRAAL


14-2-2026


The Elephant Kraal is located off the City Island, along the west bank of the new Lopburi River in the northeastern Suan Phrik Sub-district. The elephant kraal in Ayutthaya is the only one remaining in Thailand and is located 4 km northeast of the city, along Road No. 309. The area was known in earlier times as Thamle Ya, or the "grass locality", as the whole area was a large grass field. In its immediate vicinity are the War Elephants Monument, the Phaniat Palace and an old kiln.

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THE KHOCHA PRAWET MAHA PRASAT


16-2-2026


The Khocha Prawet Maha Prasat was one of the five palaces outside the city, as recorded in old documents. According to the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya, King Narai (reign 1656-1688 CE) ordered its construction in 1657 CE. It consisted of a main building and an assembly hall, reserved for the performance of all royal ceremonies in the Phaniat area. Here, the Brahmans performed various royal rites.


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Wat Wihan KHAO


2-3-2026


Wat Wihan Khao, or the Monastery of the White Prayer Hall, is off the city island, in the northeastern area of Ayutthaya, in the Hantra Sub-district. Wat Khok (defunct) stood to the north, Wat Ayothya to the east, Wat Pradu (defunct) to the south, and the railway to the west. In situ is a brick mound covered in vegetation and the remnants of a bell-shaped chedi. Its style is associated with the middle Ayutthaya period (1488-1629 CE), although there are no records of its original construction or historical context.


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Wat Chang (3)


4-3-2026


Wat Chang, or the Monastery of the Elephant, was situated on the city island in the southwestern area of Ayutthaya in the Pratu Chai Sub-district. The monastery stood on the north bank of Khlong Tha Phra. The former temple was situated just north of Wat Cho on the opposite side of the canal. In its immediate vicinity were Wat Satdichon, Wat Pa Sai and Wat Pa Sathon. In situ is a ruin covered in vegetation, lying behind private property. The foundation of a chedi with a broken spire remains visible.


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AYUTTHAYA HIGHLIGHTS



Wat Racha Burana - also called the Monastery of the Royal Repairs or the Monastery of the Royal Restoration - is located on the city island in the central area of Ayutthaya in Tha Wasukri Sub-district. The temple is situated on the corner of the present Chikun Road and Naresuan Road, opposite Wat Maha That and near the former Pa Than bridge.


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Wat Phra Si Sanphet is situated on the city island in the Ayutthaya Historical Park in the Pratu Chai Sub-district. It has been registered as a national historic site by the Fine Arts Department since 5 March 1935 CE. This monastery was the most important temple of Ayutthaya and was situated within the Grand Palace grounds. It served as a model for the Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Bangkok.

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Wat Phra Ram is a restored temple ruin located in the Ayutthaya Historical Park in Pratu Chai Sub-district situated close to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet in a swampy area called Bueng Phra Ram. The monastery was constructed on the cremation site of the first Ayutthaya monarch, King Ramathibodi I (reign 1351-1369 CE).

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Wat Maha That, or the Monastery of the Great Relic, is located on the city island in the central part of Ayutthaya in the Tha Wasukri Sub-district. The temple is situated on the corner of the present Chikun Road and Naresuan Road.


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Wat Phukhao Thong, or the Monastery of the Golden Mount, is located off the city island in Thung Phukhao Thong, nearly three kilometres northwest of the centre of the city of Ayutthaya in the Phukhao Thong Sub-district. Thung Phukhao Thong is bordered on the west by the present Chao Phraya River, which occupied the bed of the Bang Kaeo River in the mid-19th century.

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Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, or the Great Monastery of Auspicious Victory, is located off the city island in the southeast of Ayutthaya in the Phai Ling Sub-district. In the past, it bears other names such as Wat Pa Kaeo, Wat Chao Phraya Thai and Wat Yai Chaiya Mongkhon. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is situated in or just outside an ancient city known as Ayothya.

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Wat Phutthaisawan, or the Monastery of Buddhist Kingship, is located in the southern area of Ayutthaya in the Samphao Lom Sub-district, on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River and east of Khlong Thakian. It is opposite the mouth of Khlong Chakrai Yai. The temple complex faces east towards the Khu Cham and is bordered on the north by the Chao Phraya River.

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Wat Chai Watthanaram, or the Monastery of the Temple for the Advancement of Victory, as Richard Cushman translate it, is a restored ruin situated off the city island in the western area of Ayutthaya in the Ban Pom Sub-district. The large monastery is located on the west bank of the present Chao Phraya River in front of the Siriyalai Palace, which is directly across the river.

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