Wat Worachet Temple - Ayutthaya Thailnd - Khmer Style

Wat Worachet is often confused with a monastery sharing a similar name that is located directly on the city island. This has led to many complications when interpreting history as it relates to the two monasteries. The same facts are sometimes mistakenly attributed to both temples.

Wat Worachet can still be classified as a restored ruin; however, due to controversial
activities at this site (see information below), an active sermon hall, monks’ quarters, and
a shrine to King Naresuan were recently constructed in 2009. Most of this modern-half
is located away from the ruin.

The ancient monastery has many impressive structures, which have been restored by the
Fine Arts Department. The primary structure is its large Khmer-style prang. The elevated
base provides space for walking counterclockwise around the prang as an act of religious respect, and its elaborate balustrades show traces of enlargement dating to the late Ayutthaya period. The prang as the principal monument of a monastery began in 1629 with the reign of King Prasat Thong. In light of an upcoming Buddhist millennial year, this King wanted to restore Ayutthaya to its past greatness, so he built monasteries with the Khmer style to reflect the architectural style used by the city’s first kings. The Khmer-influenced can also be seen at Wat Chai Watthanaram, which was built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong in his old neighborhood. Other scholars believe that Wat Worachet was
built as a prototype before undertaking the massive endeavor of constructing Wat Chai
Watthanaram.

Royal Chronicles document this monastery’s existence to 1563-1564. The Burmese king
sent 3,000 men, 700 war elephants, and 3,000 horses to Ayutthaya in hopes of
conquering the city. They set up many stockades around the city. The army of the
Phraya of Bassein set up his stockade at Municipality of Prachet, also known as the
Worachet Monastery plain.

Wat Worachet is also the most likely location of the infamous Picnic Incident that took place in 1636. This ill-fated event between Siamese and Dutch traders was written about by Jeremias Van Vliet - a representative of the Dutch East Indian Company (VOC) in Ayutthaya from 1633-1642.

There is a lot of history to this temple and well worth a visit. Enjoy the video!

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