Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Unknown; commissioned by King Prasat Thong · Ayutthaya, Thailand · 1630
Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a royal monastery on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River. King Prasat Thong founded it in 1630, and its composition is among the clearest expressions of Khmer-influenced temple planning in late Ayutthaya. A tall central prang is surrounded by smaller towers and an elevated gallery, creating a compact symbolic mountain at the heart of the precinct. Brick walls, surviving stucco and rows of Buddha images define a powerful sequence even in ruin. The temple's river approach and sunset silhouette have made it one of Ayutthaya's most recognizable monuments. Conservation must balance visitor access, flood risk and the fragility of the exposed masonry.