| WAT BUA 1 (วัดบัว) |
Wat Bua or the "Monastery of the Lotus" was located off the city island in the northern
area of Ayutthaya in Khlong Sra Bua district.
The temple was situated on the west bank of Khlong Sra Bua in an area called Thung
Khwan. Wat Bua stood more or less opposite of Wat Khrutharam located on the
opposite canal bank. Wat Phraya Maen and Wat Dokmai were located in the west,
while Wat Si Liam was in the north.
Excavations were performed in 2000-2002 by the Fine Arts Department and various
types of pottery for use in the every daily life, such as roof tiles (rectangular flat tiles, end
pointed flat tiles, half cylindrical tiles, antefix) and sculptures (dolls & animals in various
forms) in many sizes were found; the latter were used as toys or in ritual ceremonies.
Kilns has been discovered in this area; one with a size of 3,5 x 4 meter and a assumed
wall of 1 to 1.5 meters high. Mostly tile fragments were found which presumes it was a
kiln used for firing tiles. Considering the large number of potsherds found in this area,
indicating different kind of pottery manufacturing
Excavations at the site of Wat Bua resulted in the discovery of a small reproduction of a
vihara in baked clay dating from the 15th - 18th century AD. The model is displayed in
the Chao Sam Phraya Museum.
There are no traces anymore visible of the monastery above ground level. Locals in the
vicinity recalled there was a chedi in situ in earlier times, but with exception of some
scattered bricks not much was seen above ground level as the site is covered in
vegetation.
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.
Wat Bua is indicated on 1974, 1993 and 2005 Fine Arts Department maps. Some
remains of the temple were excavated by the Fine Arts Department (FAD) in Geo
Coord: +14° 22' 39.92" N, +100° 33' 25.04" E (based on 2005 map).
area of Ayutthaya in Khlong Sra Bua district.
The temple was situated on the west bank of Khlong Sra Bua in an area called Thung
Khwan. Wat Bua stood more or less opposite of Wat Khrutharam located on the
opposite canal bank. Wat Phraya Maen and Wat Dokmai were located in the west,
while Wat Si Liam was in the north.
Excavations were performed in 2000-2002 by the Fine Arts Department and various
types of pottery for use in the every daily life, such as roof tiles (rectangular flat tiles, end
pointed flat tiles, half cylindrical tiles, antefix) and sculptures (dolls & animals in various
forms) in many sizes were found; the latter were used as toys or in ritual ceremonies.
Kilns has been discovered in this area; one with a size of 3,5 x 4 meter and a assumed
wall of 1 to 1.5 meters high. Mostly tile fragments were found which presumes it was a
kiln used for firing tiles. Considering the large number of potsherds found in this area,
indicating different kind of pottery manufacturing
Excavations at the site of Wat Bua resulted in the discovery of a small reproduction of a
vihara in baked clay dating from the 15th - 18th century AD. The model is displayed in
the Chao Sam Phraya Museum.
There are no traces anymore visible of the monastery above ground level. Locals in the
vicinity recalled there was a chedi in situ in earlier times, but with exception of some
scattered bricks not much was seen above ground level as the site is covered in
vegetation.
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.
Wat Bua is indicated on 1974, 1993 and 2005 Fine Arts Department maps. Some
remains of the temple were excavated by the Fine Arts Department (FAD) in Geo
Coord: +14° 22' 39.92" N, +100° 33' 25.04" E (based on 2005 map).
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| Text, maps & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - April 2009 Reviewed September 2011 |
| (Mound is situated left of the street) |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
| (Click thumbnail for an aerial view) |
| (View of the site) |
| (Object excavated in situ) |
| (Extract of a 1974 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Dr. Surat Lertlum, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy) |
| (Extract of a 1993 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Khun Supot Prommanot, Director of the 3th Regional Office of Fine Arts) |
| (Extract of the document "Development of ceramics production in Ayutthaya" by Pakpadee Yukongdi (2009), Silpakorn University - showing the excavation pits on the east and west bank of Khlong Sra Bua in the area of Wat Khrutharam) |