| WAT KHOK PHLU |
Wat Khok Phlu or the "Monastery of the Mound of the Betel-vine" was located off
the city island in the western area at Pak Kran sub-district. The temple was situated on
the south bank of the (present) Chao Phraya River (1) and west of Khlong Takhian. Wat
Khok Phlu stood north of Wat Klang (and west of Wat Klang Khlong Takhian built in
the Ratanakosin Era). Wat Kuti lies on its west.
Only a brick mound remains from the former village temple. Historical data about the
monastery and its construction are unknown.
The Marine Vessel Dockyard was located near the mouth of the Takhian canal, likely in
the vicinity of Wat Khok Phlu. The dock housed around 30 marine warships and 100
more smaller fighting vessels. [1] There was also a well-known floating market in its
vicinity and one of the five former ferry crossings across the Chao Phraya River, linking
the monastery with Tha Wang Chai (Wang Chai landing). (2) [2]
The site is not indicated on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.
Footnotes:
(1) Author's comment: In the Ayutthayan era, the present Chao Phraya River must have
been the old Lopburi River as the Chao Phraya River at that time was situated there,
where the Noi River runs now. Steve Van Beeck writes that "It was not until 1857
that an alternative path was created [for the Chao Phraya River]. A 5-kilometre
channel was dug from the entrance of Wat Chulamani to Ban Mai. The river
responded by following this new course and abandoning the old one, in effect
making a secondary river of the stretch that ran from Ban Mai, and into the Chao
Phya Noi. Half as wide as the river above and below it, the 1857 Ban Mai shunt
funnels the Chao Phya down to Ayutthaya." [3]
(2) In Ayutthayan times there were twenty-two ferry routes. In the southern area, the
four other crossings were: the crossing to Wat Phanan Choeng, Tha Hoi (*) to Wat Pa
Chak (*), Tha Phra Rachawangsan to Wat Tharam (*). [1]
(*) Could not be located by AHR.
References:
[1] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 297.
[2] Ibid - page 329.
[3] The Chao Phya - River in Transition - Steve Van Beeck (1994) - page 12.
the city island in the western area at Pak Kran sub-district. The temple was situated on
the south bank of the (present) Chao Phraya River (1) and west of Khlong Takhian. Wat
Khok Phlu stood north of Wat Klang (and west of Wat Klang Khlong Takhian built in
the Ratanakosin Era). Wat Kuti lies on its west.
Only a brick mound remains from the former village temple. Historical data about the
monastery and its construction are unknown.
The Marine Vessel Dockyard was located near the mouth of the Takhian canal, likely in
the vicinity of Wat Khok Phlu. The dock housed around 30 marine warships and 100
more smaller fighting vessels. [1] There was also a well-known floating market in its
vicinity and one of the five former ferry crossings across the Chao Phraya River, linking
the monastery with Tha Wang Chai (Wang Chai landing). (2) [2]
The site is not indicated on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.
Footnotes:
(1) Author's comment: In the Ayutthayan era, the present Chao Phraya River must have
been the old Lopburi River as the Chao Phraya River at that time was situated there,
where the Noi River runs now. Steve Van Beeck writes that "It was not until 1857
that an alternative path was created [for the Chao Phraya River]. A 5-kilometre
channel was dug from the entrance of Wat Chulamani to Ban Mai. The river
responded by following this new course and abandoning the old one, in effect
making a secondary river of the stretch that ran from Ban Mai, and into the Chao
Phya Noi. Half as wide as the river above and below it, the 1857 Ban Mai shunt
funnels the Chao Phya down to Ayutthaya." [3]
(2) In Ayutthayan times there were twenty-two ferry routes. In the southern area, the
four other crossings were: the crossing to Wat Phanan Choeng, Tha Hoi (*) to Wat Pa
Chak (*), Tha Phra Rachawangsan to Wat Tharam (*). [1]
(*) Could not be located by AHR.
References:
[1] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 297.
[2] Ibid - page 329.
[3] The Chao Phya - River in Transition - Steve Van Beeck (1994) - page 12.
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| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - April 2009 |