Wat Ratchaburana (Ayutthaya)

His two brothers died in a power struggle to succeed their father, King nakhon In who died in 1424. A series of bell-shaped chedis surround the main prang and a large oblong-shaped viharn is situated at the front.



Wat Ratchaburana is at the foot of Paa Than bridge in Tha Wasukri subdistrict, Phra Nakorn Sri Ayutthaya (Krung Kao) district, Ayutthaya province. It is located north of Wat Mahathat and stands only a short distance away from the royal palace. Wat Ratchaburana is one of the royal monasteries built in the Ayutthaya era and the eldest Temple in the province. According to the Royal Chronicles, it was constructed in 1424 during the reign of Somdet Phra Borommaracha II, commonly known as Chao Sam Phraya, on the royal cremation site of Chao Ai Phraya and Chao Yi Phraya.

Somdet Phra Borommaracha II had 2 memorial pagodas built on the location where both of his elder brothers fought each other to the death on elephants' backs, and named the pagodas after his borthers' names-Chedi Chao Ai Phraya and Chedi Chao Yi Phraya.The highlight of Wat Ratchaburana is the crypt where tremendous treasures were stored. In the year 1956-1957, looters smuggled through the Prang and plundered a considerable amount of valuables, especially votive tablets made of tin and lead. In September 1957, the Fine Arts Department officially excavated and restored the crypt of Wat Ratchaburana. To their surprise, they uncovered the relics of the Lord Buddha, swords, crowns, golden attires, Buddha images made of gold and copper alloy, royal regalia and a few hundred thousands of votive tablets. Later the Fine Arts Department allowed collectors to purchase these recuperated sacred items, and the proceeds from the sale were meant to build Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. The museum was founded on the occasion that His Majesty the King and Her Majesty the Queen paid a visit to admire the invaluable artifacts excavated from the crypt. The museum is situated in Pratu Chai subdistrict, Pridi Banomyong Road. All the recuperated treasures are stored in Ratchaburana Room inside the museum.