The most beautiful religious buildings Central Plain

Next to Wat Ratchaburana, this restored temple is equally worthy of interest. A very important spiritual centre, its creation dates back to Boromaraja I (1370-1388). There was once a royal monastery. In 1956, many gold cult objects were discovered in its foundations. There are still some prang and chedi, including one with a statue of Buddha leaning against it, and many amputated Buddha statues, walls and some columns. The great curiosity of the place is a Buddha's head embedded in the roots of a banyan tree.

Located on the Nan River, this temple commonly known as Wat Yai dates from the mid-14th century. It is one of the only buildings to survive the major fire of 1957. Thecentral vihara houses the statue of Buddha Chinnarat in a seated position, one of the most revered and beautiful in the country. Made entirely of polished bronze, it is in the Sukhothai style. Its main feature is the headdress, a halo that takes the form of a sacred snake. The doors of the large image room are covered with pearls made by the king's craftsmen in the 18th century. Candlesticks on the ceiling majestically illuminate the room. Buddha statues line up in the corridors. A large 8-metre statue of standing Buddha, Phra Attharot, is located on the site. It would be from the same period as that of Buddha Chinnarat, and was once in a large room that no longer exists today but of which some ruins can be seen as pillars. The centre of the enclosure is dominated by a prang, a large Khmer style pagoda. Originally this structure was to form a Sukhothai-style lotus flower stupa, then had to be converted into a prang in the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. A ceremony in honour of Buddha Chinnarat takes place every year at the end of January. Across the street, another temple, Wat Ratchaburana, is also worth a visit. It houses a magnificent three-headed Naga and 19th century murals.

A little difficult to find in the meanders of the ruins but this temple is still a must in the city. He is famous for his reclining Buddha (Phra Noon), 37 metres long and 8 metres high. His head is placed on a lotus and his legs overlap to show the equalized toes. His body is often covered with a large saffron stole. It is a famous image that often illustrates articles about Ayutthaya. Behind him is a temple, and nearby Wat Worachettharam: their visits are available

One of the finest historical remains in the region. Its Khmer architecture evokes the temples of Angkor. It was built in 1630 as a tribute to the mother of the ^25th king of Ayutthaya. The main prang is over 35 metres high, with 4 more modest prangs arranged around it at the four cardinal corners. A gallery of 120 Buddha statues completes the decor. The walls of the enclosures also feature reliefs depicting the life of Buddha. When night falls, the temple is illuminated to great effect...