It was common for a royal temple to be included in the Grand Palace, reserved for royalties only. The important and most outstanding monastery located in the Grand Palace of Ayutthaya is Wat Phra Si Sanphet. Formerly a residential palace, it was later used as a royal chapel, but no monks or novice have ever inhabited this place, as the normal practice of other temples.

Adjacent to that and also located on the palace grounds is the Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit, presently housing a large bronze-cast Buddha image originally enshrined outside the Grand Palace to the east. The original sanctuary (wiharn) and Buddha image was badly destroyed by fire during the second fall of Ayutthaya. Though beautiful, the renovated building paled in comparison to the beautiful craftmanship of the original ones. The open area to the east of the sanctuary was formerly the Royal Fields (Sanam Luang), but has now been converted into a parking lot and souvenir vending stalls.

The Elephant Kraal Pavilion, slightly north of town, was utilized as the royal seat to witness the elephant round-ups. Wild elephants would be driven here for training as pack animals or war mounts. In the middle of the stockade is a shrine to honor the elephant guardian.

Wat Ratchaburana is located opposite Wat Mahathat, located at the eastern entrance of the Grand Palace. Two pagodas were built on the ground where the king’s 2 brothers were killed while engaged in single hand combat abreast elephants against the Burmese. Later, a sanctuary (wiharn) was added and the placed was upgraded to a monastery (wat).

The Chedi Phra Si Suriyothai, located in the Phra Nakorn Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, is a memorial dedicated to the first heroine in Thai history. It is an important proof that ancient Thai society honored Thai women. In 1548, Phra Si Suriyothai, a royal consort, went out to battle the Burmese with the Thai army. Clad in a warrior’s suit, she fought on elephant back and sacrificed her life to save her husband, Phra Maha Chakkraphat, the present King from danger. The chedi is located at the original cremation site.

On the bank of the Chao Phraya River, on the western side of the city, is another beautiful monastery, Wat Chaiwatthanaram. The magnificent main stupa (tower) and the satellite stupas along the gallery reflect a Khmer influence.

Located slightly south of Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-in Palace was used as a country residence by the Ayutthayan royalties. When the capital was moved to Bangkok, Rama V restored the palace compound, as it now appears with various distinctive buildings, such as the Chinese-style pavilion and the famous Thai pavilion in the middle of the pond.

The Ayutthaya Historical Study Center houses interesting audio-visual displays depicting Ayutthaya’s history. Funded by the Japanese government, the center is located in a former Japanese quarter at the time when Ayutthaya was at the peak of its power and prosperity.

Wat Na Phramen is the only temple that was not completely destroyed during the 1767 invasion and destruction of Ayutthaya. Situated on the northern side of the city moat right across from the Grand Palace, the Burmese used the temple as their headquarter. Still in use today, it has retained its original, magnificent splendor since its construction in 1503.

The largest chedi in Ayutthaya is located at Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, located outside the city island to the southeast. King Naresuan the Great commissioned the pagoda to be built to celebrate his victory over the Burmese in 1593. On the northeast side of the wat is a large reclining Buddha housed within a ruined wiharn

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