Wat Worachettharam

Wat Worachettharam, or Wat Worachet for short, is an ancient royal temple situated in Ko Mueang. It lies between Wat Lokayasutharam and Wat Woraphot inside the compound of Wang Lang, or the Rabbit Park. The history of this temple remains shrouded in the past. Some believe it was built in 1593 by King Ekathotsarot on the funeral ground of his brother King Naresuan the Great as a place to keep his brother’s relics.

There are two locations for Wat Worachettharam in Ayutthaya, one in Ko Mueang and one outside Ko Mueang called Wat Prachet. The one mentioned here is in Ko Mueang. One thing that lends credence to the belief that King Ekathotsarot ordered the construction of the temple is the discovery of relics associated with King Naresuan the Great. It is known that someone snuck in and dug up the underground chamber of the principal chedi. Inside was a relic container surrounded by naga-protected Buddha images, the symbol of King Naresuan the Great’s birth day (Saturday).

In addition to this, some researchers suggest that the area where Wat Worachettharam was built might have previously been the residence of King Ekathotsarot, which he had devoted to his brother.

An interesting feature of the temple is the enormous principal bell-shaped chedi built in the Sukhothai style and made of bricks and mortar commonly found during the mid-Ayutthaya period. When visiting this temple, do not forget to take note that the decorations on the pediment are similar to those of the Wat Mahathat. If you visit this temple first, do not forget to note the trace of similar decorations at Wat Mahathat.

This is the only temple in Ayutthaya that is surrounded by a moat, a feature which is commonly found at temples in Sukhothai Province.