Wat Senasanaram

Wat Senasanaram is an active temple situated in the northern part of Ayutthaya’s city island in the Hua Ro Sub-district. It is a first-class royal monastery with the rank Ratchavoravihan). The temple was established in the Rattanakosin period and is located south of and behind the Chan Kasem National Museum (the former Front Palace). The initial Ho Rattana Chai Canal started at the Ho Rattanachai Gate in a western direction for about 150 metres and was, from this point, filled in. From that point, a canal was dug in the reign of King Rama IV, encircling the monastery called Khlong Senasanaram.

The monastery's construction started in the reign of King Mongkut (1851-1868 CE) in 1862 CE, and Wat Senasanaram was established in 1863 CE. Rama IV was a devout Buddhist concerned that many superstitious practices had grown around the core Theravada teachings and founded a strict sect of reformist monks known as Thammayut, dedicated to purifying Buddhist practice. Wat Senasanaram became the first temple in Ayutthaya to practice Thammayut discipline.

Ayutthaya Historical Research