Wat Racha Praditsathan
Wat Racha Praditsathan on U-Thong Road, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya district, Ayutthaya province is one of the temples built during the Ayutthaya era. It sits on the west entrance of the canal called Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak and is located inside the city wall. Although Wat Racha Praditsathan has been mentioned several times in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya, it remains unclear whether who commanded the construction. The only discoveries archeologists could make are that it was built in the Early Ayutthaya period and that Somdet Phra Maha Chakkraphat resided during his ordination. At present, Wat Racha Praditsathan is regarded as a private monastery.After Somdet Phra Chairachathirat’s death, the next in line to succeed to the throne was Phra Yotfa, who was apparently too young. To avoid being accused of usurping the throne, Prince Thian Racha (uncle of Phra Yotfa) decided to seek political refuge by residing in the monkhood at the temple. Later Queen Regent Sri Sudachan (Phra Yotfa’s mother) and Khun Worawongsathirat (her lover) were executed; Prince Thian Racha succeeded the throne and declared himself Somdet Phra Maha Chakkraphat just before the declination of Krung Sri Ayutthaya in 1767. Wat Racha Praditsathan is also the temple where Somdet Phrachao Uthumphon stayed when he was in monkhood. However, after the fall of the kingdom the temple has been deserted and never been renovated until the reign of Phra Bat Somdet Phra Mongkut Klao Chaoyuhua (King Rama VI) who appointed Khun Sri Songkram as the leader of the restoration in 1917.The ordination hall enshrines the lustrous gold Buddha image known as Phra Boromatri Lokanat. Right in front of the ordination hall, there is a one-storey pavilion which houses several images of Buddha for visitors to pay homage to. Located nearby is an abandoned, yet beautiful temple named Wat Tha Sai, which is now annexed to Wat Racha Praditsathan. Historically, that Wat Racha Praditsathan was the residence of former kings and royal family members reflects a close relation between Thailand’s three main social Institutions since the old days.
