Wat Jao Prap วัดเจ้าปราบ - Monastery of the Lord Conqueror - Ayutthaya Historical Park Thailand 2024

Wat Jao Prap วัดเจ้าปราบ

Wat Jao Prap is located in Somdet Phra Sri Nakharin Park (Grandmothers Park), in the southwestern area of the city island. It is near the mouth of Khlong Chakrai Yai. This canal was once an important route for accessing the Grand Palace, and it would have been used by the royalty and others for transportation to the palace.

This monastery's name may refer to a royal dressing area for visiting a temple; and the remains of a Phlabphla or pavilion is still visible in the corner of the site.

An ordination hall is located at this site, and a large bell-shaped chedi is its primary feature (suggesting the Middle Ayutthaya period).

An inner wall surrounds the ordination hall. This wall includes many niches where lanterns or Buddha images could have been placed.

A number of smaller chedi can be seen at this site as well. Two of are the most interesting and are just outside of the inner walls. One is in the late period Khmer-style with many corners. A second chedi is nearly completely covered by a Bodhi tree that has grown over it. Only its general shape and a few bricks can be seen.

The Fine Arts Department has listed Wat Jao Prap as being constructed in the Early Ayutthaya period, but it is unclear when it was built for sure. With many temples records being destroyed when the city was destroyed during rhe fall of Ayutthaya in 1767.

The area around this monastery was once used by bodyguards, police, and soldiers. An armory was once located at the mouth of Khlong Chakrai Yai near this temple but it has since been destroyed due to the construction of a modern water gate.

The name of this temple is supposedly mentioned in an old book used by military troops. Wat Chao (Jao) Phrap stands for "Lord Conqueror" and the temple's name can as be translated as the "Monastery of the Lord Conqueror".

Often temples were named after their founders as well.

The temple is near several others that make up the park. It’s seldom visited but is a nice site to walk through and enjoy the old capital.