Rating: 3.3/5 (7 votes)

Open Days: Daily (Generally)

Opening Hours: 08.00 – 17.30 (Generally – Please Check Local Announcements/On-Site Conditions Before Visiting)

 

Phra Tamnak Chao Pluk (Wat Na Wua) is a history-focused spot in Ayutthaya that sits outside the busy island-city zone, yet carries a surprisingly “dense” story layer for anyone who enjoys reading the past. This area is linked to the royal travel route between Ayutthaya and Lopburi, the wide open plains remembered in chronicles and local memory in connection with campaigns during the reign of King Naresuan the Great, and architectural traces that invite you to picture the era of King Narai the Great, when state structure and foreign relations were shifting in a serious way across the region.

 

If you look at it as a traveler who wants to understand the geography of power first, Phra Tamnak Chao Pluk functions more like a “waypoint” than a final destination. It is generally believed to have served as a resting pavilion or stopover during royal journeys to Lopburi, which gained importance as a secondary royal seat in part of King Narai’s era. This makes practical sense in pre-modern states: major routes along waterways and main roads needed stopping points that could accommodate attendants, security, and ceremonial order. On a real map, you’ll also notice that Chao Pluk Subdistrict in Maharaj District connects quite directly in both directions – onward to Lopburi and back to Ayutthaya.

 

The local name “Wat Na Wua” gives this place a distinctly community-rooted identity. It isn’t only a site narrated in museum language; it is a place local people have long recognized and lived alongside. For a period, it was described as an old/abandoned temple that deteriorated over time. Later, the area was revived, with community accounts often noting that around 1993 monks were invited back and the lay community helped restore monastic facilities so the temple could function again. That shift matters: visiting today can feel less like looking at “dead ruins” and more like witnessing how faith and place are kept alive by the people around them.

 

What many visitors come for is the architectural trace – including references to a “Chaturamuk (four-gabled) pavilion” and areas said to have supported the royal entourage, with accounts that connect the site to the broader travel-and-diplomacy atmosphere of the King Narai period. In that era, the Ayutthaya–Lopburi corridor became notably active in terms of movement and contact, and foreign travel records often describe journeys and stopovers in Siam. That’s one reason many people believe this kind of location likely played a real role historically, even if today you are reading it more through landscape and remnants than through intact palace structures.

 

Another interesting layer is the landscape and the place-name tradition. Local historical memory references “Thung Maharaj” or “Thale Maharaj” in association with the time of King Naresuan the Great and Prince Ekathotsarot, which encourages you to read the area like a real field setting rather than only a pin on a map. Broad plains are naturally suited to mustering troops, establishing camps, moving forces, and controlling key routes. Standing on site and looking out, it becomes easier to understand why open “thung” landscapes so often appear as backdrops to military movement in Thai history across multiple eras.

 

If you enjoy photography, the strength of Phra Tamnak Chao Pluk/Wat Na Wua is its openness and the “real” countryside atmosphere of Ayutthaya. Morning light is soft and flattering for brick textures and scale, while late afternoon light adds depth and dimension. Because this is temple ground and some parts may be old or fragile, the best way to visit is gently: avoid climbing, leaning on cracked sections, or doing anything that disturbs local worship or the calm of the place.

 

For travelers who want value without the crowd density of the island-city circuit, this can be a great pause point on an Ayutthaya–Tha Ruea–Lopburi route, or a half-day side trip to reset the mood after popular temples. The contrast is clear: from high-traffic landmark zones to a quieter space where you can slow down, connect the story in your head, and take photos without competing for angles.

 

Getting There If you drive from Bangkok, take Phahonyothin Road/Asia Highway (Route 32) toward Ayutthaya, then turn at the junction toward Lopburi/Tha Ruea. Continue for about 4 km and look for “Krua Thong Daeng” restaurant on the left. Turn left onto the small road beside the restaurant, then drive about 100 meters to reach Wat Na Wua/Phra Tamnak Chao Pluk. It’s a good idea to keep navigation on, since map labels may vary.

 

To avoid a wasted trip, consider calling the temple before you go – especially if you plan to visit late in the day or during a festival period – because on-site access, conditions, and the most suitable visiting time can change depending on local arrangements.

 

 

A: It is in Ban Klang, Moo 4, Chao Pluk Subdistrict, Maharaj District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Locals commonly call the site “Wat Na Wua.”

 

A: It is generally believed that this area may have served as a resting pavilion or stopover during royal journeys between Ayutthaya and Lopburi, which became more significant during King Narai’s era.

 

A: Walk slowly and read the landscape first – the plain, the route logic, and the idea of a stopover point – then look for architectural traces and the quiet atmosphere that makes this site feel distinctive.

 

A: If you want to walk, take photos, and absorb the setting without rushing, plan about 45 – 90 minutes.

 

A: Yes, especially if you plan to visit late in the day or during holidays, since access and the best visiting window can vary. You can call Wat Na Wua (Chao Pluk) at 035-386-308.