Wat Ratchaburana วัดราชบูรณะ - Ayutthaya Historical Park - Thailand 2022

Wat Ratchaburana วัดราชบูรณะ is a Buddhist temple (wat) in the Ayutthaya Historical Park, Ayutthaya, Thailand. The temple's main prang is one of the finest in the city. Located in the island section of Ayutthaya, Wat Ratchaburana is immediately north of Wat Mahathat.

Wat Ratchaburana was founded in 1424 by King Borommarachathirat II of the Ayutthaya Kingdom and built on the cremation site of his two elder brothers. The two brothers had fought to their deaths in a duel for the royal succession to their father Intha Racha.

The story goes Something like this.

King Intharacha had three sons being Chao Ai Phraya, Chao Yi Phraya and Chao Sam Phraya. Following the death of their father, the first and the second born, led their armies to Ayutthaya in order to claim the throne. Both princes engaged each other in personal combat, mounted on elephant; on or near the “charcoal market” bridge (Saphan Pa Than). Both were severely wounded, their throats slashed open at the same time and died in combat. The youngest brother, Chao Sam Phraya, was then invited to Ayutthaya and proclaimed King under the title of Borommaracha II. The King commanded two chedi built on the site where his brothers engaged in battle. He cremated both his brothers and on their cremation site Wat Racha Burana was built.

Not much is known on the history of this temple in the period between its establishment
in 1424 and its destruction in 1767 when the Burmese captured the city.

Wat Racha Burana is on par with Wat Phra Ram, Wat Phutthaisawan and Wat Maha
That. They all followed the Khmer concept of temple construction and are very similar
to each other. All temples in the early period of the establishment of Ayutthaya were Khmer styled, consisting primary of laterite structures and bricks, enhanced with stucco.

This temple is part of the 6 temple tour available in the historical park. It’s well worth a visit if you are in the area.

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