Wat Putthai Sawan in Ayutthaya: Everything you need to know for a visit!

Wat Sawan Phutthai, the Temple of the Heavenly Buddha, is one of the five temples in Ayutthaya, featuring a large reclining Buddha statue. Located on the south bank of the Chao Phraya River, just outside the city center, it dates back to the 14th century, the reign of King Ramathibodi I. It is one of the first temples built during the period when Ayutthaya dominated the region. Although modern buildings were added later, a Khmer-style prang depicting Mount Meru has been preserved. This prang is located in a courtyard surrounded by a covered walkway and contains a seated Buddha statue. At the rear of the temple, within the ruins of a small vihara, is another large reclining stone Buddha statue.

Entry to the temple is free.

To reach Wat Puthai Sawan, you can rent a bicycle and, to avoid a long detour, take a boat at the end of U-Thong Soi 15 (in front of Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya Hospital) to cross the river (10 THB per person with bicycle). Depending on the water level, you may not be able to take your bicycle on the boat and will have to leave it at the dock and retrieve it later. Alternatively, you can ask a tuk-tuk driver or rent a scooter, provided you comply with Thai motorcycle laws.

Wat Putthai Sawan is a temple, and when visiting a temple in Thailand there are some rules to follow: appropriate clothing (knees and shoulders should be covered), take off your shoes when entering the building, be quiet, do not hug or kiss, do not point your feet at the Buddha statue, do not smoke.

How to get there

How do I get to Wat Putthai Sawan? To get to Wat Putthai Sawan, you can rent a bicycle and, to avoid a long detour, take a boat at the end of U-Thong Soi 15 (in front of the Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya Hospital) to cross the river (10 THB per person with bicycle). Depending on the water level, you may not be able to take your bicycle on the boat. In this case, you will have to leave it at the dock and pick it up later. Alternatively, you can ask a tuk-tuk driver or rent a scooter, provided you comply with Thai motorcycle laws.