Attraction Details :
Wat
Phanan Choeng Worawiharn is located in Khlong Suan Plu subdistrict, on
the south bank Of Pasak River opposite the main city. From Wat Yai Chai
Monkon, make a left turn and keep going for a kilometer, you will find
Wat Phanan Choeng on your right.
Although Wat Phanan Choeng has been
built even before the establishment of Ayutthaya as the capital city,
there is no clear record about its founder. According to the Northern
Chronicles, Phra Chao Sai Namphung, the ruler of Ayotthaya, had it built
at the royal cremation site of Phra Nang Soi Dok Mak and named the
temple “Wat Phra Chao Nang Choeng” (or Wat Phra Nang Choeng)
The assembly hall (vihara) houses a
majestic Buddha image cast in B.E. 1324, 26 years before the
establishment of Ayutthaya. This Buddha image was formerly called “Phra
Buddha Chao Phanan Choeng”, until King Rama IV renamed it “Phra Buddha
Trirattana Nayok”. It was built of stucco in subduing Mara posture and
was magnificently lacquered and gilt. In front of the Buddha Image are a
talipot fan and 2 statues of disciples made of stucco sitting on its
left- and right- hand side. The columns inside the assembly hall were
decorated with red painting of Phum Khao Bin pattern. The capitals of
the columns were ornamented with stucco multi-petal lotus flowers. All
the 4 walls were indented to make several chambers which enshrine 84,000
small Buddha images. The wooden front doors were craved exquisitely
with Kan Khod pattern, a distinctive feature of Ayutthya Art.
The ordination hall (ubosot) houses
Sukhothai-style Buddha images. Viharn Sien in front of the main assembly
hall is a rectangular building whose walls decorated by mural painting.
The traditional Thai architectural sermon hall is made of wood. Its
pediment was ornamented with a gable apex and ridges. The crossbeam
inside was covered with the painting portraying the life of the Lord
Buddha.
In addition, you will find the shrine
of Chao mae Soi Dok Mak, the Chinese architecture enshrining the statue
of Chao mae Soi Dok Mak in Chinese costume. The sacred statue is known
as “chu-sae-near” and widely worshipped by the Chinese. Admission fee
for foreigners is 20 baht and free of charge for Thai visitors.
