Wat Phraya Maen

Wat Phraya Maen is a restored ruin located off the city island in the northern area of Ayutthaya, in the Khlong Sra Bua Sub-district. The area where the monastery is situated is locally called Thung Khwan. Wat Dokmai (defunct) and Wat Bua (mound) stood east, while Wat Prasat (a restored ruin) was in the south. The area is subjected to seasonal flooding.

There are many structures at Wat Phraya Maen that the Fine Arts Department has restored.

The ordination hall is in good shape. The high walls and foundation are intact, and the floor has been retiled. Hundreds of small niches are inside the walls for placing holy images, similar to the style at Wat Phanan Choeng. There is also a basic pedestal inside the Ubosot, but few traces of Buddha images have survived. The outer windows have retained some of their stucco decorations, and pieces of ceramic tiles can still be seen embedded in the stucco.

The main stupa in the west has only its foundations remaining. Two prang-like pagodas are seen on the east side or in front of the ordination hall. These pagodas are in spire shape on a twelve-rabbeted angles square base and stairs on each side. The pagoda has a twenty-rabbeted angled square frame with 3 level bases, a Garuda decoration level and a spire. The style of the pagoda is typical for the late Ayutthaya period. Two more twelve rabbeted-angled chedis are found behind the ordination hall. Some chedi foundations can be found all around the main structure.

Ayutthaya Historical Research