Wat Ratchaburana วัดราชบูรณะ , Ayutthaya

Wat Ratchaburana, Ayutthaya (30 December, 2002)


[an error occurred while processing this directive] Wat Ratchaburana (GPS: 14.35869, 100.56728; pronounced wat-rat-burana วัดราชบูรณะ ) are the ruins of an interesting Thai Buddhist temple in Ayutthaya, Thailand. It is within stone's throw of other famous Ayutthaya temples, namely Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan and Wat Phra Ram.

Wat Ratchaburana was built in 1424 by Borom Ratchathirat II, with the main prang over the cremation site of his father, King Nakharintharathirat. When King Nakharintharathirat died in 1424, a power struggle ensued between his three sons. The two elder brothers, Chao Aye Phraya of Suphanburi and Chao Yi Phraya of Sanburi, met each other for a duel on elephant back, both desiring their father's throne. The fight took place near the Pa-Than Bridge in Ayutthaya, and tragically ended with the death of both brothers.

The third son, Chao Sam Phraya, came down from Phitsanulok and ascended the throne as the new king, taking on the name of Borom Ratchathirat II. Thereupon, he arranged for the funeral of his father and his two brothers. Wat Ratchaburana was erected at the site where his father was cremated. At the site where his two brothers fought and died, he had two chedis built to keep their ashes.

King Borom Ratchathirat II buried a hoard of treasure under the main prang, possibly as an act of merit-making on behalf of his departed brothers. Incredibly, that treasure survived through the centuries, even long after the Burmese had ransacked and burned down Ayutthaya. It was only in 1957 that the treasure was discovered, but not on purpose.

[an error occurred while processing this directive] In September of 1957, looters tunneled down to the two-level crypt inside the main prang and carted away valuable treasures. The police managed to apprehend some of them. With the discovery, the Fine Arts Department stepped in to excavate the site. The treasures uncovered included a gold reliquary in the shape of a mini stupa. It was embellished with gems and other precious stones. There were also statues of Buddha from different time periods as well as from different places in the Buddhist world. Unfortunately, due to the ransacking by the thieves, it was not possible to know the original placement of the treasures inside the crypt.

Of equal value to the gems was the discovery of murals covering the walls of the crypt. These are the most ancient in tact example of Thai Buddhist art in existence. Their location inside the crypt had spared them from destruction by the Burmese.

Due to the vast hoard of Buddha images and votive tablets found in the crypt, the government approved that some of these be given as gifts to the people who had contributed to the building of the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, which houses most of the treasures of Wat Ratchaburana.

The main prang of Wat Ratchaburana, Ayutthaya (30 December, 2002)


[an error occurred while processing this directive] View of the main prang of Wat Ratchaburana, through one of the doorways of a viharn (30 December, 2002)


The main prang of Wat Ratchaburana, Ayutthaya (30 December, 2002)


Southern façade of the main prang has a standing Buddha. (30 December, 2002)


The eastern side of the main prang has a staircase leading up to it. (30 December, 2002)


The central prang of Wat Ratchaburana. (30 December, 2002)


View towards the grounds of Wat Ratchaburana from Wat Phra Mahathat Woramahawihan. (30 December, 2002)
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Wat Ratchaburana on Google Street View

Wat Ratchaburana, viewed from west to east towards its main prang (Apr 2015)

Wat Ratchaburana is on the map of Ayutthaya

Here I am at Wat Ratchaburana in Ayutthaya. (30 December, 2002)

List of Wats in Ayutthaya and Wats in Thailand

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