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Wat Worachetha Ram

Wat Worachetha Ram

Wat Worachetha Ram is a 400-year-old temple located on Koh Mueng. It was built during the reign of Somdet Phra Ekatotsarot as a contribution to his brother, Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharat. The temple was where the cremation of Somdet Phranaresuan Maharat took place. It is now home to the ashes of the great king of Ayutthaya. The story goes that somebody allegedly dig into the chamber under the principle Bhuddha image in the temple and found a naga-sheltered Buddha statue. The naga-sheltered Buddha is the patron Buddha of those who were born on Saturday, which was the day Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharat was born. Accordingly, a group of academics concluded that the temple, as believed, was ordered to be built by Somdet Phra Ekatotsarot as a contribution his brother. At Wat Worachetha Ram, it is worth noting the remains of a viharn which was built from brinks and cement. Even though only the foundation of the shrine is left, details like the front and back porticos, the bases of small stupas and the cement Bhuddha statue in the Bhumisparsa Mudra, which is the principle Buddha image of the temple, can still be observed. Buddhists nowadays still bring garland offerings to pay respect to the Buddha image. Located behind the shrine is a bell-shaped stupa. The stupa was built in the style of the middle Ayutthaya period. Its main details, such as the disks, the harmika, the shoulder poles surrounding the yasti of the chatra, are still in good condition. The stupa is believed to house the ashes of Somdet Phra Naresuan Maharat. Surrounded in different directions by stone markers, the brick-and-cement ubosot is located next to the shrine and the principle Buddha image. The structure of the ubosot is still in good condition despite its collapsed roof. Another image of Buddha can be found inside. Wat Worachetha Ram is located in Talord Yod community, Tambon Pratu Chai, Amphoe Phra Nakhon, Ayutthaya. On the south of the temple is Wat Lokkayasutharam and on the east is Wat Warapho. For more information, please contact the Ayutthaya Office of the Tourism Authority of Thailand via 02 250 5500.The map to the temple can be access from http://www.tourismthailand.org/fileadmin/upload_img/Multimedia/Ebrochure/470/วัดวรเชษฐาราม.pdf