Wat Chaiwatthanaram: King Prasat Thong's Temple of Prangs on the Chao Phraya

Why the temple didn't exist in Naresuan's time

King Naresuan died in 1605. Several more reigns followed, including those of King Ekathotsarot and King Songtham, and about 25 years passed before this temple was built. When you select Naresuan's era on the map, there are no prangs at all at this spot yet.

At that time this riverside land lay outside the city walls. Since it is recorded as the former residence of King Prasat Thong's mother, it was probably a residential area before the temple, but there is no clear evidence of what the houses of that period looked like.

This spot through the eras

This point on the map changed from riverside land into a royal temple, and then into a protected historic monument.

• Founding of the city (1351–1488): no temple yet; this was land on the west bank of the river, outside the city island.
• Naresuan's era (1548–1605): no temple yet. This area later became the home of King Prasat Thong's mother.
• King Narai's era (1656–1688): the temple had already stood for several decades, a royal temple on the river in the reign of its founder's son.
• Second fall of Ayutthaya (1767): the temple was destroyed along with the capital. Some suggest it may have been used as a strongpoint during the war. Afterwards it was abandoned; many Buddha images were beheaded and its bricks were carried off for reuse.
• Today: after a major restoration by the Fine Arts Department, it has been open to visitors since 1992, and it is one of Ayutthaya's most famous spots for watching the sunset.

From ruins to conservation

After lying abandoned for more than two centuries, excavation and clearing of the site began around 1958. From 1987 the Fine Arts Department restored it in phases, covering the central prang, the ubosot, the merus, the corner prangs, the walls, the stucco reliefs and the murals, and relocated houses that had encroached on the site. It was opened to the public in 1992.

On the north side of the platform are the bases of three chedis which, according to DASTA, are believed to have held the ashes of Prince Thammathibet (Chao Fa Kung), son of King Borommakot, together with Princess Sangwan and Princess Nim. This shows that the temple remained linked to the royal court until the last years of the kingdom.

The great flood of 2011 damaged the structures, which led to a 12-year conservation project (2012–2024) by the Fine Arts Department, the US government's Ambassadors Fund for Cultural Preservation (AFCP) and the World Monuments Fund. It included planning water management, building a flood wall and conserving the merus and the gallery, experimenting with doing without cement to reduce problems with damp and salt.

Visiting and watching the sunset

The temple is on the west bank of the river, opposite Siriyalai Palace, and can be reached from the city island by road or by boat. In the evening, looking from the front of the temple on the east side, the sun sets behind the cluster of prangs, silhouetting them against an orange sky. It is a hugely popular photo spot.

Evening events are often held towards the end of the year. For example, from late 2025 to early 2026 the Ministry of Culture held a night-time heritage event at this temple, with a light show and khon (masked dance-drama) performances. Check the latest schedule before you go.

The temple grounds are wide open with little shade, so bring water, a hat and an umbrella. If you come in Thai costume for photos, take care not to climb or sit on the monuments.