Your base for this sight is the Unesco World Heritage City of Ayutthaya. For travel information on Ayutthaya, read the AsiaExplorers Ayutthaya Travel Guide. For day trips to Ayutthaya, use Bangkok as your base. Read the Bangkok Travel Guide for more information.
Wat Phra Ram is one of the loveliest and best preserved temple ruin in Ayutthaya. It was initiated by King Ramesuan in 1369 on the cremation ground of his father, King U-Thong. However, King Ramesuan reigned for only one year, before his throne was taken over by King Borom Rachathirat I. (ref: Ayutthaya history #5) It is not known whether construction stopped, or whether Borom Rachathirat I allowed construction to continue. The wat was possibly completed only when King Ramesuan returned to the throne the second time, in 1388.
Tourists on elephant riding past the prang of Wat Phra Ram
The temple fell into disrepair after that, but since it was so near the Royal Palace, it was restored on several occasions, and new buildings were added to it. Major renovations were carried out under the reign of King Borom Trai-Lokkanat (1448-1488), King Borommakot (1733-1758) and also in 1941.
Wat Phra Ram has a distinctive prang (corncob-shaped chedi) with a gallery of stucco naga, garuda and statues of the Buddha. There used to be a swamp beside the temple, called Nong Sano. It was renamed Phra Ram Swamp, and turned into a lotus pond where it remains so until today.
View of Wat Phra Ram from the lake skirting it.
A collection of chedis at Wat Phra Ram
Ayutthaya Travel Guide
Useful information on the ruins and tourist attractions in Ayutthaya
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