A golden Buddha gleams in the afternoon sun. This is Wat Sena Non. Its beauty is captivating.
Wat Sena Non is more than just a temple. It’s a living testament to history. It stands proudly. It stands where once stood Wat Sua the Tiger Temple. This older temple was incorporated into the palace grounds. It fell into ruin after the Burmese invasion in 1767.
King Mongkut a devout Buddhist rebuilt Wat Sena Non. He renamed it in 1863. He founded a strict sect of reformist monks. Wat Sena Non became the first temple in Ayutthaya to practice Thammayut discipline. King Mongkut believed in education. He established monastery schools. He encouraged monks to learn modern teaching methods. Provincial nobility even served apprenticeships there.
King Chulalongkorn continued the reforms. He modernized the country. He made Ayutthaya an educational and administrative center. The city’s hospital police station courthouse and prison were all nearby. This boosted Wat Sena Non’s importance. King Chulalongkorn made further renovations in 1884.
Wat Sena Non became an important school. Children studied there at primary and secondary levels. It trained the city’s first secular teachers. The Ministry of Education eventually took over local schools. Wat Sena Non returned to its role as a monastery. It remains active today. It still receives royal patronage. Look closely. You’ll see the details. You’ll see the large sermon hall with its beautifully decorated murals. The reclining golden Buddha is breathtaking. The central chedi is bell-shaped and also painted gold. Small white chedis surround it.
Inside are two sacred Buddha images Phra Phuttha Sai-yat and Phra Inplaeng. The temple also houses a pulpit and a teakwood boat. These were gifts from King Chulalongkorn. The courtyard is impeccably clean.
Wat Sena Non is a place of serenity. It’s a place of learning. It’s a place of faith. Its rich history echoes through its walls. It’s a beautiful place. Come. Explore its stories.