Wat Kasattrattrathirat วัดกษัตรา - a Restored Ancient Temple in Ayutthaya

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3 years ago
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Wat Kasatrathirat is a monastery still in use by the Buddhist clergy. It is located off the
city island along the west bank of the Chao Phraya River.

Besides the ordination hall and the relatively small prang, most of the monastic buildings
are from recent times. Although the history of this temple remains hazy, it is presumed to have been built in the Middle Ayutthaya period (1488 - 1629).

The principal prang is not as streamlined as the other prangs in Ayutthaya. There are no
stairs to access the niche inside the prang. Traces of restoration are for example the bell-
shaped chedis in the niches, which earlier contained Buddha images.

The temple was renovated in the first reign of the Ratanakosin Period (1782-1809) by
Prince Khrom Khun Isranurak, a nephew of King Rama I. The renovation was a complete overhaul of the temple. The temple at that time changed the name from Wat Kasatra to Wat Kasatrathirat.

In the reign of King Rama IV, Pra Kru Winyanuwattikhun added more monastic
buildings. These new buildings included a new chapel sponsored by Khrom Mun Ayulyaluksa Sombat (Prince Urai). The new chapel took 14 years to be built and was finished in 1879.

Wat Kasatrathirat is classified as a third-class Royal temple of the 2nd grade - Voraviharn, following a ranking system for royal temples initiated in 1913 and consequently has beautiful carved double bai sema around the ordination hall (ubosot).

The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya recount that Posuphla, the General of the Burmese Armies, at the end of 1766, sent soldiers to establish a stockade at the Village of the Fort (Ban Pom) so that they could fire their large guns on the City of Ayutthaya. Wat Kasatra was badly damaged and deserted during the last siege of Ayutthaya by the Burmese.

The temple is a great place to visit and worth a bit of your time to see. It’s not on the tourist trail but is well known by the locals. Enjoy the video!

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