Chayprapat Waithayakul  

 Wat Phanan Choeng :

Wat Panan Choeng is an old monastery housing Thailand’s largest ancient Buddha image, known as “Luang Po To”.  A historical cronicle state that this gilded stucco image was built in A.D. 1344, some 26 years before the establighment of Ayutthaya as the capital of the Thai Kingdom in A.D. 1350.

In front of this temple, they are many local foods and desserts.  Souvenirs  are also available for tourists such as dried food and handicrafts.

The reason  why this temple became famous was that Wat Phranan Choeng is a huge and old temple.  It used to be the royal temple during the Ayutthaya period.  A lot of people throughout the country visit the temple and show their respect to the Buddha image.

It’s main building enshrines a huge, seated buddha image, that is 57 feet tall an object of particular devotion to Thais of Chinese origin.

Luang Po To’s still renovated.  This will be finished by the end of 2008.

Many people come here to respect the Buddha image especially on weekend and holidays.

If you want to visit this 2 temples and respect the Buddha images, you can travel along Asia Avenue (No.32) from Bangkok  and  turn left to Ayutthaya.  You will see a circle with a big Chedi called “Chedi Wat Sam Pluam”.  Then turn left again and go straight about 1.5 kilometers.  Wat Yai Chai Mongkol is on your left.  Go ahead about 3 kilometers, Wat Phranan Choeng will be on your right.  Also, you can cross the river at the pier of Pom Petch.

Wat Yai Chai - Mongkol : 

Wat Phra Chao Phya-thai, populary known as Wat Yai Chai-Mongkol, is situated to the southeast of the Ayutthaya city.  It’s located near the main Ayutthaya ruins and a short distance from the walls of Ayutthaya.

This temple is famed for an impressively large statue of the Reclining Buddha inside the temple compund.  Built by King U Thong (Ayutthaya’s first ruler) in 1357)

The large chedi there can be seen from a great distance.  This pagoda is bout 60 meters high in Ceylonese style named “Phra Chedi Chai Monghon”.  Normally it is called “Phra Chedi Yai” or Wat Yai Chai Mongkhol now.

We went up to the top and it’s very windy.  But we saw the most beautiful view that we’d never seen before.
Nice View!






People come to play respect and many tourists are seen here especially during weekends and public holidays.

You will see the Buddha images around this temple.

This is a great place to visit and wander around, so give yourself plenty of time for a visit.

Admission Fee : 20 Baht
Temple Hour : 08:30 - 16:30
Direction : Wat Yai Chai Mongkol is in the Southeast of the town and easily accessible by Tuk-Tuk for around 30 Baht.