The main prang
Centre of the temple
One of the best-preserved prangs in Ayutthaya, with stucco garudas and nagas still visible on its sides and steps up to its upper chamber.
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Ayutthaya, Thailand
Wat Ratchaburana
One of the best-preserved prangs in Ayutthaya, with a crypt where gold treasures and murals were found.
Favourite places
The crypt murals
Inside the prang
Narrow steps lead down into the crypt, where faded paintings of Buddhas and disciples — among the oldest murals in Thailand — survive on the walls.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Viharn ruins and chedis
In front of and around the prang
The brick walls of the old assembly hall and the smaller chedis around it frame the prang, good for photos from the east side.
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Historical places
The crypt treasure
Now in the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
The gold found in the crypt in 1957 — regalia, jewellery and votive tablets — is the core of the national museum's collection.
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Local food
Boat noodles (kuay teow reua)
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Small bowls of rich, dark noodle soup with pork or beef, once sold from boats on the canals. Ayutthaya is known for them, and people usually order several bowls each.
Roti sai mai
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Ayutthaya's signature sweet: thin, soft roti wrappers rolled around fine threads of coloured spun sugar. Sold in bags from stalls on U Thong Road and around town to take home.
Where to eat
Bang Lan night market
Bang Lan Road, middle of the island
An evening food market near the main temples with grilled meats, noodles, Thai desserts and fruit. An easy place to try several local dishes after a day of ruins.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Chao Phrom market
East side of the island, by the Pa Sak River
Ayutthaya's busy daytime market near the ferry from the railway station, with noodle shops, snacks and fruit stalls.
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Where to stay
The old island (around Naresuan Road)
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Stay inside the ring of rivers and you can cycle to the main ruins in minutes. Guesthouses and small hotels cluster near the Historical Park and the night market.
Open in Google Maps (opens in a new tab)Riverside near the railway station
Ayutthaya, Thailand
Across the Pa Sak River from the island, close to the trains from Bangkok. Riverside guesthouses here are a short ferry or bridge ride from the old town.
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Culture
Even in ruins these are sacred places: dress modestly (shoulders and knees covered), do not climb on Buddha images or ruined walls, and never pose in a way that puts your head above a Buddha image or turns your back to it for a selfie. Headless Buddha images are a reminder of the sack of 1767 and of later looting — treat them with the same respect as a whole image.
History
King Borommarachathirat II built the temple in 1424 on the spot where his two elder brothers had died fighting for the throne. Looters found gold in its crypt in 1957; what remained is now in the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. You can climb into the prang to see faded murals.
Tour plans
Treasure trail
Half dayStep 1: Wat Ratchaburana
Climb into the crypt to see the murals.
Step 2: Wat Mahathat
Cross the road for the Buddha head in the tree.
Step 3: Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
See the gold found in the crypt.
Step 4: Lunch
Boat noodles near the museum.
Map
Travel information
Best time to visit
November–February; morning, combined with Wat Mahathat across the road before it gets hot.
How to get there
Across the road from Wat Mahathat.
Getting around
The old city sits on an island formed by three rivers, and the main ruins are spread out across it. A rented bicycle is the classic way to see them — the island is flat, but the sun is strong, so start early. Tuk-tuks can be hired by the hour for a temple circuit; agree the route and time before you set off. Sights off the island, such as Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, are easier by tuk-tuk or on an evening boat tour around the island.
Travel tips
The steps into the prang are steep — mind your head.
