Wat Pa Lelai Worawihan

Wat Pa Lelai Worawihan is a royal Buddhist temple in the town of Rua Yai in the heart of Suphanburi Province. The temple compound includes several buildings with whitewashed walls and red tile roofs arranged around a central courtyard featuring old bodhi trees and stone lanterns.

The monastery was founded in the 16th century during the reign of King Naresuan, who established it as a place of prayer for soldiers fighting against Burmese forces. Later kings of the Rattanakosin era renovated the buildings and granted the temple its current royal designation.

The temple takes its name from the Lelai forest that once covered the grounds before monks built their first meditation hut here. Devotees from surrounding villages bring flowers and incense to the main shrine each morning and spend time in quiet prayer.

Visitors should wear long pants or skirts, keep shoulders covered, and remove shoes before entering any buildings. Early morning offers quieter conditions and gentler light for walking through the various halls.

The walls of the main hall display murals depicting scenes from the life of King Naresuan, including his famous elephant duel against a Burmese prince. These frescoes use natural pigments from local mineral sources and have retained their colors over the centuries.