Wat Chaiwatthanaram

The royal chronicles of Ayutthaya, for example the Phan Chantanumat (Choem)’s version, the Phra Chakkraphaddiphong (Chad)'s version and the Phra Racha Hatthalekha version collectively note that Wat Chaiwatthanaram was constructed in 1630, the reign of King Prasat Thong.

The site was listed and declared an ancient monument in the Government Gazette no. 52, part 75, on 8 March 1935.

Archaeological fieldworks and restoration on this site began in 1987 and continued in 1990 - 1991 during which many residences that trespassed the archaeological sites were removed.

In 1987 the restoration focused on the main prang, the ubosot, the eight chedi-shaped chapels. The works continued into 1988 with new restoration work on the round chedi and its immediate area. In 1989, two 12-angle indented (recessed) chedi and their surroundings were restored and maintained including a removal of residences from the site.

Archaeological fieldworks began in 1990 while landscaping and evacuation were still in progress and continued into 1991. The restoration and conservation project of this phase included archaeological works, restoring four lesser prangs at the corners, parts of the main prang, lesser viharn, north and south outer walls, bell tower, landscaping and renovating surroundings, public utilities and reordering nearby residential area.

Wat Chaiwatthanaram in its current condition features only the Phuttawat. Most buildings of the Phuttawat stand on the massive Phai Thi base. Significant buildings are the main prang with lesser prangs at the four corners, these are surrounded by the gallery; chedi-shaped chapels at the four sides and four corners; the ubosot on the front or eastern side and two indented/recessed chedis to the north and the south which were built on the ground level.

1. Wat Chaiwatthanaram has a prang as a main edifice of its compound and is widely considered the last massive prang of the Ayutthaya period.

2. There are eight chedi-shaped brick chapels (in Thai: Meru Thit Meru Rai) erected at the four sides and four corners on the platform. These buildings probably serve as an example of multi-tiered wooden building of the Ayutthaya period.

3. The layout of Wat Chaiwatthanaram’s ground plan should symbolize the ideology of Buddhist/Hindu cosmology as embodied by the main prang as the Mount Meru with the lesser prangs at the four corners, all of which are encircled by the gallery.

5. The royal chronicles of Ayutthaya, for example the Phan Chantanumat (Choem)’s version, the Phra Chakkraphaddiphong (Chad)'s version and the Phra Racha Hatthalekha version state that after King Prasat Thong consecrated the temple he bestowed the name of the abbot as Phra Achit Thera acting in the office of Phra Racha Khana (Supreme Patriarch) of the Aranyawasi Order.

ศิลปากร, กรม. พระราชวังและวัดโบราณในจังหวัดพระนครศรีอยุธยา. พระนคร : สำนักทำเนียบนายกรัฐมนตรี, 2511.

ศิลปากร, กรม. ทะเบียนโบราณสถาน. กรุงเทพฯ : กรมศิลปากร, 2532.

สันติ เล็กสุขุม. ศิลปะอยุธยา งานช่างหลวงแห่งแผ่นดิน. กรุงเทพฯ : เมืองโบราณ, 2542.