January 12, 2020

3352 THAILAND (Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya) - Wat Chaiwatthanaram in Ayutthaya


Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a Buddhist temple located in south west of the old city of Ayutthaya, on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, outside Ayutthaya island. It is a large compound part of Ayutthaya Historical Park; however not a part of Historic City of Ayutthaya, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, about which I wrote here. The temple was constructed in 1630 by the king Prasat Thong as the first temple of his reign, as a memorial of his mother's residence in that area. The temple's name literally means the Temple of long reign and glorious era.

It was designed in Khom style, to be the victorious symbol for Ayutthaya in occasion of 199 years of destroying Khmer Empire. Here, the king and his successors performed religious ceremonies. Princes and princess were cremated here, including King Boromakot's son Chaofa Thammathibet. Its structure reflects the Buddhist world view, the "three worlds of the King Ruang", of the 14th century. After the total destruction of the old capital by the Burmese in 1767, the temple was deserted. Only in 1987 did start restoring the site, and in 1992 it was opened to the public.

About the stamps
The first stamp is part of the series Chatukham Rammathep, issued on March 29, 2008, and containing 12 stamps with the same face value (9 THB).


The last two stamps are part of the series Insignia of Orders, issued on December 5, 1988.
• Knight Grand Commander, Order of Rama (2 THB)
Order of Rama (2 THB)
• Knight Grand Cordon, Order of the White Elephant (3 THB) - It's on the postcard 3352
Order of the White Elephant (3 THB) - It's on the postcard 3352
• Knight Grand Cordon, Order of the Crown of Thailand (5 THB)
Order of the Crown of Thailand (5 THB)
• Knight, Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit (7 THB)
Ratana Varabhorn Order of Merit (7 THB)

References
Wat Chaiwatthanaram - Wikipedia

Sender: Pumipat
Sent from Bangkok (Bangkok / Thailand), on 25.12.2019
Photo: Jatuporn Rutnin

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