Recommended temples to visit in Ayutthaya: Wat Khunsan

Wat Khunsan

This is the home town area of the first king of the Rattanakosin Kingdom, Somdet - Phraputthayodfaa - Chulalook-mahaarat or as we know, the founder King of Bangkok. He was originally of Mon (Rman) race. Rman or Mon are one of the earliest ethnic groups to inhabit the area of which we know as Burma nowadays.

The story of this temple goes back to the mid 16^th century. King Naresuan was adopted by the Mon’s king, Hongswadee, when he was 9 years old due to the loss of the Ayutthaya Kingdom. By time, king Hongsawadee became afraid that king Naresuan would betray Burma. So he asked the knights Phraya Kiat and Phraya Raam to trap and arrested him. However, during that time both of them were students of the monk Mahaathen kan chong. As the monk was fond of King Naresuan, he brought the knights with him to the King Naresuan and informed him about the plan. King Naresuan saw that the Hongsawadee king was not a good person, because he did not follow the Buddhist principles as a good king should. So he announced a liberty in order to be free from the Hongsawadee king and Burma.

King Naresuan brought the knight with him to do civil service work in the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Other of the knights, Phraya Kiat, established his home and family around the Wat Khunsan area. Time passed, the children and the heirs of him became also respected civil servants. One of them was the Phraputthayodfaa Chulalok, or the first king of the Rattanakosin Kingdom.

The pagoda is in bended position and outer layer of bricks has been built to protect the pagoda. Small Buddha statues crafted from sand stone have been damaged and only the lower body parts are left.

Renovation history

During the King Rama IV period, this temple had an on-going renovation. Before the renovation was nearly completed, the King Rama IV passed away and the renovation was suspended. Even though this temple has been registered as one of the ancient sights to be preserved, it is not taken care of anymore.  The villagers have invaded the area and established a small community. Once, it was a sex trade area in Ayutthaya also. Though nowadays there is no such thing anymore, the Fine Arts Institution of Thailand (Krom Silpaakorn) decided in 1993 to give up renovating the temple.

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Recommended temples to visit in Ayutthaya: Wat Thammikarat

Ayutthaya used to be the capital city of Thailand. It was a glorious period in Thailand's history and
therefore Ayutthaya has many interesting sight to visit for temples, Buddha statues and other ancient history places. For this blog, we selected the interesting, but little known temples to visit.

A local tuk tuk in Ayutthaya, distinct from Bangkok's, negotiable price and one of the interesting ways to visit Ayutthaya.

    Wat Thammikarat 

Located next to the old palace. This temple is assumed to be built before the Ayutthaya Kingdom. However, there is no real evidence when the temple was built. This temple was important to the kings of the Ayutthaya Kingdom as it was the temple where the kings visited regularly on every Buddhist day (Buddhist day runs according to the lunar phases, for the full moon, half full moon, new moon and half new moon.) Nowadays, there are still monks residing in this temple. 

The main sanctuary used to have a bronze Buddha statue, which however was ruined and is now stored in the Chao saam phra yaa museum in Ayutthaya. The head of the Buddha statue on the picture is a remake of the old one.

The main sanctuary, where the bronze Buddha statue was before. The sanctuary was burnt down and ruined by the Burmese attacking the Ayutthaya Kingdom. Only some pillars and walls remained as seen in the picture.

Jedi Singhlom, this is the only jedi (pagoda) in Ayutthaya, that is surrounded by Singhs (A lion in the Thai mythology, a symbol of power and braveness.) There are 52 Singh statues total, and this kind of art was derived from the Khmer culture.

Another sanctuary in the temple area, where a sleeping Buddha is lying. Built during the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

Inside the sleeping Buddha sanctuary, there is a large jar containing holy water that Thai people usually drink and take a small amount to pour on their head for a lucky blessing after visiting to a temple.

The chapel, below on the picture within the Wat Thammamikrat area, was built in the early of the Rattanakosin Kingdom era. Inside there is the meditating Buddha.

Lots of rooster statues, that Thai people brought to pray to King Naresuan. It is believed that the King liked the Rooster game and that is why you see so many roosters statues here.

Interest in this tour? Please contact info@thailandsecrettour.com. For more information, visit www.ThailandSecretTour.com