| WAT CHEDI YOD HAK |
Wat Chedi Yod Hak (Wat Chedi Yorthop) or the "Monastery of the Broken Spire" is
located east of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon in the southeastern sector of Ayutthaya, outside
of the city island. This deserted monastery is very difficult to find and covered by heavy
vegetation. It has not been fully excavated.
Based on the size of the mound around the monastery, Wat Chedi Yod Hak is
surprisingly large for this area. Its main architectural feature is a chedi tower that has
greatly eroded. The shape suggests a bell-shaped chedi tower from the middle
Ayutthaya period, but this dating remains uncertain. There are also traces of at least three
smaller chedi and various walls around the monastery. Also, there is evidence of a
former moat around this temple. However, it would be difficult to make claims without
proper excavation.
This monastery has been damaged from seasonal flooding, which is still common in this
area. Evidence suggests that earth walls once passed by this site but were torn down to
create more rice fields. Some researchers have also theorized that the old Pa Sak River,
or a tributary canal, once passed through this area, leading to some place near Wat
Phanan Choeng. Wat Chedi Yod Hak might have belonged to this water system.
located east of Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon in the southeastern sector of Ayutthaya, outside
of the city island. This deserted monastery is very difficult to find and covered by heavy
vegetation. It has not been fully excavated.
Based on the size of the mound around the monastery, Wat Chedi Yod Hak is
surprisingly large for this area. Its main architectural feature is a chedi tower that has
greatly eroded. The shape suggests a bell-shaped chedi tower from the middle
Ayutthaya period, but this dating remains uncertain. There are also traces of at least three
smaller chedi and various walls around the monastery. Also, there is evidence of a
former moat around this temple. However, it would be difficult to make claims without
proper excavation.
This monastery has been damaged from seasonal flooding, which is still common in this
area. Evidence suggests that earth walls once passed by this site but were torn down to
create more rice fields. Some researchers have also theorized that the old Pa Sak River,
or a tributary canal, once passed through this area, leading to some place near Wat
Phanan Choeng. Wat Chedi Yod Hak might have belonged to this water system.
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| Text by Ken May - December 2008 Photographs by Tricky Vandenberg |
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