Wat Chang วัดช้าง - The Monastery of the Elephant - Ayutthaya Historical Park Thailand 2024

Wat Chang วัดช้าง or the Monastery of the Elephant. It is named this because when the temple was built there were elephant statues that circled the main chedi.

The exact date the temple was founded is unknown and there is some debate about it among scholars. This temple is listed as being built during the reign of King Borommatrailokanat who reigned from 1448 until 1488. This was during an expansion phase if Ayutthya and when they annexed Sukhothai as a vassal state. Some sources believe that Wat Chang was constructed even earlier, perhaps before the founding of Ayutthaya itself. Standing Buddha images were found at this temple, which resemble those of the Sukhothai Kingdom.

Wat Chang was restored a number of times during the Late Ayutthaya period. King
Phumintharacha is one monarch who contributed to repair work in the warly 1700’s.

It appears to have been a very importanttple due to the size and the location of the ruins. It is a very large plot of land with most of the buildings completley missing. There are 3 groups of buikdings on site thst can be visited by crossing small footbridges over the moats that surround the ruin.

This temple is near the elephant camp and floating market. It’s popular for visitors to ride elephants into the temple ruins for photo opportunities.

The monastery is located outside the city island to the east near the train ststion. It is just south of Wat Maheyong.

It’s a mostly unknown ruin and seldom visited by tourists. It’s worth a short visit for anyone in the area that wants to explore on their own without the large crowds of the more popular and famous ruins.

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