Wat Thammikarat, or Wat Thummikarat – both spellings appear on the signs – lies not far from Wat Si Sanphet, close to the riverbank. The temple complex consists of several buildings from different eras, including one that now consists only of walls. Neither the brick chedi surrounded by Singha towers nor the enormous, iconic bronze Buddha head are the true treasures of this temple, which is rarely mentioned in tourist guides. Almost opposite the Buddha head is a building currently under renovation (to the right of the chedi) that houses a beautiful reclining gold Buddha, surprisingly omitted from Lonely Planet's guide to Thailand. Add to that a statue of King Naresuan and a more recent Wihaan (traditional temple) – and you have Wat Thammikarat.

Free entry. Open from 6:00 AM to 6:00 PM.

To get to Wat Thammikarat and most other temples in or around Ayutthaya city center, you can rent a bicycle from one of the many rental shops in town or at your hotel or guesthouse (sometimes bicycles are provided free of charge for guests). Alternatively, you can hire a tuk-tuk and either go just to the temple or take a city tour for about 200 THB per hour. Renting a scooter is also an option, sometimes directly at the hotel or from various rental companies in town. Depending on where you are staying in Ayutthaya, the temple might even be just a short walk from your accommodation.

Wat Thammikarat 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 you get to Wat Thammikarat? To get to Wat Thammikarat, as with most temples in or around Ayutthaya's city center, you can rent a bicycle. There are numerous rental shops, hotels, and guesthouses in the city, where bicycles are often available free of charge. Alternatively, you can hire a tuk-tuk and either go directly to the temple or take a city tour for about 200 THB per hour. Renting a scooter is also an option, sometimes directly at hotels or from various rental companies in the city. Depending on where you are staying in Ayutthaya, the temple might even be just a short walk away.