To honour his mother, King Prasat Thong had this temple built on the bank of Chao Phraya River In 1630. The architectural style here was influenced by the Angkor temple complex in Cambodia. The main structure, the 35 meter high central prang, symbolises Meru Mountain which is the centre of the universe in Hindu cosmology.
This royal temple was deserted until 1987 when the Fine Arts Department started restoration work. It was opened to the public in 1992.
Wat Chai Wattanaram is very popular among both professional and amateur photographers. It is one of the most photogenic temple ruins in Ayutthaya. Photos of tourists sporting traditional Thai outfits, a trend started by a hit historical TV drama in 2017, with this temple as background are popping up on social media sites, too.
