| WAT KHOK MADAN YAI (วัดโคกมะดันใหญ่) |
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Wat Khok Madan Yai or the “Monastery of the Mound of the Large Madan Tree”
(1) was located on the city island in the southern area at Pratu Chai sub-district. It was
situated in the present Somdet Phra Sri Nakharin Park; the latter being part of the
Ayutthaya Historical Park. The site of the former monastery is accessible via U-Thong
road and is found west of Wat Chao Prab.
King Chakkraphat (r. 1548-1569) also called the "Lord of the White Elephants".
Thianracha (Chakkraphat), before ascending the throne, had his princely residence in the
area. The monastery belonged to a cluster of temples located along a canal, connecting
Wat Luang Chi Krut with Wat Chao Prab, running parallel with the city’s defense wall.
The area was before important, as most of the palace officials and high ranked persons
were living on both sides of the Chao Phraya River between Wat Phutthaisawan and Wat
Chai Wathanaram.
The last traces above ground level of this temple probably disappeared when the Somdet
Phra Sri Nakharin Park was constructed. Only a large grass field remains.
Its historical background and exact period of construction are not known, although it is
very likely that the former monastery was built in the Middle Ayutthaya period.
Footnotes:
(1) Madan” (มะดัน) is the Thai word for a tree with the Latin name “Garcinia
Schomburgkiana Pierre”. This tree belongs to the Clusiaceae family native to Asia,
Australia, tropical and southern Africa, and Polynesia, consists of many species. The tree
is 3 to 7 m high and has medicinal capacities. Leafs and fruits macerated with saline water
provides a mucolytic drink which relieves cough and can also be used for the treatment of
abnormal menstruation.
(1) was located on the city island in the southern area at Pratu Chai sub-district. It was
situated in the present Somdet Phra Sri Nakharin Park; the latter being part of the
Ayutthaya Historical Park. The site of the former monastery is accessible via U-Thong
road and is found west of Wat Chao Prab.
King Chakkraphat (r. 1548-1569) also called the "Lord of the White Elephants".
Thianracha (Chakkraphat), before ascending the throne, had his princely residence in the
area. The monastery belonged to a cluster of temples located along a canal, connecting
Wat Luang Chi Krut with Wat Chao Prab, running parallel with the city’s defense wall.
The area was before important, as most of the palace officials and high ranked persons
were living on both sides of the Chao Phraya River between Wat Phutthaisawan and Wat
Chai Wathanaram.
The last traces above ground level of this temple probably disappeared when the Somdet
Phra Sri Nakharin Park was constructed. Only a large grass field remains.
Its historical background and exact period of construction are not known, although it is
very likely that the former monastery was built in the Middle Ayutthaya period.
Footnotes:
(1) Madan” (มะดัน) is the Thai word for a tree with the Latin name “Garcinia
Schomburgkiana Pierre”. This tree belongs to the Clusiaceae family native to Asia,
Australia, tropical and southern Africa, and Polynesia, consists of many species. The tree
is 3 to 7 m high and has medicinal capacities. Leafs and fruits macerated with saline water
provides a mucolytic drink which relieves cough and can also be used for the treatment of
abnormal menstruation.
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| Text & map by Tricky Vandenberg - September 2009 |
| (Extract of a begin-20th century map) |