Wat Chaiyo Worawihan

Wat Chaiyo Worawihan is a second-class royal Buddhist temple located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River in Chaiyo District, Ang Thong Province, central Thailand. It is renowned for enshrining Phra Maha Phuttha Phim, a large seated Buddha image in the meditation posture built by Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phrommarangsi). Originally dating to the Ayutthaya period and restored during the reigns of King Rama IV and Rama V, the temple is a major pilgrimage and cultural landmark.

Visitors can expect a riverside temple compound with a prominent white viharn housing the large seated Buddha image Phra Maha Phuttha Phim, traditional Thai temple architecture, ubosot, smaller chapels and Buddha images, landscaped grounds along the Chao Phraya River, active worship areas with merit-making and prayer, souvenir and amulet stalls, and a calm religious atmosphere. The complex is compact and walkable, with parking and open courtyards for sightseeing and photography.

Originally built in the Ayutthaya period as Wat Chaiyo, the temple was restored and enlarged by Somdet Phra Phutthachan (To Phrommarangsi) who constructed the large stucco Buddha image Phra Maha Phuttha Phim. King Rama IV granted it royal temple status and King Rama V continued restoration, elevating it to a second-class royal temple (Worawihan). It remains an important example of Rattanakosin-period temple restoration.

The temple is a highly revered Buddhist pilgrimage site in central Thailand, centered on the sacred image Phra Maha Phuttha Phim believed to bring merit to worshippers. As a royal temple, it hosts important religious ceremonies and merit-making activities and is a cultural landmark of Ang Thong Province representing Thai Buddhist devotion and craftsmanship.