อ่านภาษาไทย
Sookjai Holiday invites you to travel to Ayutthaya with an understanding of the history of Thai heritage. It is an online ancient site travel guide. You can walk around in Wat Phra Ram and open it immediately from your mobile phone.
📸 When you arrive at Wat Phra Ram, you may want to take a photo with the large prang (main prang). Before putting on a Thai dress to get a retro-style photo, Wat Phra Ram may have had a moat surrounding it. Currently, there is an L-shaped pond on the side of the temple entrance. This type of pond is a backdrop for taking pictures of the ancient temple, making it always possible to get beautiful photos.
Assumed shape of Wat Phra Ram Image from the Wat Phra Ram document, virtual historical park website, Fine Arts Department
The first construction of Wat Phra Ram was during the reign of King U Thong or King Ramesuan (the first and second king of the U Thong Dynasty respectively. The name Ramesuan is a title used for the king's son during the early Ayutthaya period. King Ramesuan reigned twice under the same name) or Wat Phra Ram may have been built during the reign of King Borommatrailokkanat (Suphan Buri Dynasty). The records are inconsistent in each chronicle, including the interpretation of each historical scholar.
However, it is believed that Wat Phra Ram was established on the site of the cremation of King U Thong, and King Ramesuan ordered the construction of Wat Phra Ram to dedicate merit to his father. With the temple's construction area in the Bung Phra Ram area (the map in the reign of King Rama V called it Bung Chi Khan, Ayutthaya people call it Nong Sono), it is one of the important temples in the heart of Ayutthaya.
Wat Phra Ram before restoration Image from the Wat Phra Ram document, virtual historical park website, Fine Arts Department
The layout of Wat Phra Ram is the same as other temples in the early Ayutthaya period. However, visiting Wat Phra Ram today uses the entrance on the west side (which is the back of the temple, but some scholars speculate that during the late Ayutthaya period, Wat Phra Ram may have faced the Grand Palace to the west, thus becoming the front of the temple). When visiting from the west, you will find the base of the ubosot with the main prang as a backdrop and 4 chedis on the same base.
The main prang of Wat Phra Ram is the same as the Phra Prang of Wat Ratchaburana, with small prangs (prang wings) decorated above and below, similar to the layout of the three prangs. It may be modeled after the Phra Prang of Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat, Lopburi Province. The top may have been restored in the late Ayutthaya period. The 4 corners of the base are decorated with chedis in the Sukhothai-Ayutthaya style. There are niches decorated with stucco Buddha images in the Sukhothai style. Both the ubosot and the main viharn are connected by a cloister. It is worth noting that the minor viharns and minor chedis were built independently, regardless of the symmetry of the overall layout of Wat Phra Ram.
The prominent feature of the paintings inside the prang of Wat Phra Ram is that they are painted with images of the past Buddha, similar to other early Ayutthaya paintings, except that there are triangular frame patterns similar to Chinese patterns called Ruyi, which were popular during the reign of King Borommatrailokkanat. It may refer to his royal patronage, but currently it is not possible to go up to the prang.
Wat Phra Ram underwent a major restoration, taking as long as 1 year to build during the reign of King Borommakot.
After the second fall of Ayutthaya, people went to become monks, but instead used Wat Phra Ram as a gathering place, hoping to establish themselves as a major power, but were defeated by King Taksin. Wat Phra Ram was abandoned until the Fine Arts Department restored it in 1956 to the present.
Worthwhile travel to Ayutthaya, visiting ancient sites, searching for delicious food, attractions, and accommodations in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province with Sookjai Holiday's search tools. Travel around Thailand and have fun and be happy.
