| WAT KLANG KHLONG TAKHIAN |
Wat Klang Khlong Takhian or the "Monastery in the Middle of Takhian Canal"
is an active temple located off the city island in the southern area in Pak Kran sub-
district. The monastery is situated at the confluence of the Chao Phraya River and
Khlong Takhian (1), on the west bank of the latter at its mouth. The St Joseph Church
and the ancient Cochinchinese settlement lies just opposite the other bank of the canal.
The old Wat Klang is situated to its west, opposite the road. Wat Nak lies just south of
Wat Klang. Opposite the Chao Phraya River is Wat Wang Chai.
In situ we find the classic monastic structures. The monastery is quite large, but dates
from the post Ayutthaya period. The ordination hall was built in the Late Ayutthaya style
(1629-1767). The hall has two elevated porches with each two entries and the two-
tiered roof is supported by four columns. The longest walls of ubosot have five windows
each. The hall is surrounded by an inner wall or crystal wall (Th: Kamphaeng Kaew)
demarcating the sacred area.
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown. The site is not
indicated on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926. This could be an
indication that this monastery was constructed after 1926 as a substitute for the old Wat
Klang.
Near Wat Klang and Wat Nak was one of the five former ferry crossings across the
Chao Phraya River, linking the monasteries with Tha Wang Chai (Wang Chai landing).
(2) [1]
The area was important as the Marine Vessel Dockyard was situated near the mouth of
Khlong Takhian and housed 30 marine warships and 100 more smaller fighting vessels
under the supervision of the Phraya Rachawangsan. [3]
Footnotes:
(1) Also called Khu Lakhon Chai or "Le Canal du Grand Cochon" (Great Cochon
River). A floating market (Khlong Khu Lakhon Chai market) was held at the mouth of
this canal. [2]
(2) In Ayutthayan times there were twenty-two ferry routes between the main land and
the city island. The southern area had six crossings: Hua Sarapha
to Wat Phanan Choeng, Tha Hoi to Wat Pa Jak, Tha Phra Rachawangsan to Wat Khun
Phrom, Tha Dan Chi to Wat Surintharam, Tha Chakrai Noi to Wat Tha Rap and Tha
Wang Chai to Wat Nak. [1] See "The Boat & Ferry Landings of Ayutthaya".
(3) Following Chularatana, the Phraya Racha Wangsan was the division chief of the
Krom Asa Cham, in charge of the Cham communities in Ayutthaya. [4]
References:
[1] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒และภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - Explanation of the map of the
Capital of Ayutthaya with a ruling of Phraya Boran Rachathanin - Revised 2nd edition
and Geography of the Ayutthaya Kingdom - Ton Chabab print office - Nonthaburi
(2007) - page 91.
[2] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 272.
[3] Ibid - page 297.
[4] The Shi’ite Muslims in Thailand from Ayutthaya Period to the Present - Julispong
Chularatana.
is an active temple located off the city island in the southern area in Pak Kran sub-
district. The monastery is situated at the confluence of the Chao Phraya River and
Khlong Takhian (1), on the west bank of the latter at its mouth. The St Joseph Church
and the ancient Cochinchinese settlement lies just opposite the other bank of the canal.
The old Wat Klang is situated to its west, opposite the road. Wat Nak lies just south of
Wat Klang. Opposite the Chao Phraya River is Wat Wang Chai.
In situ we find the classic monastic structures. The monastery is quite large, but dates
from the post Ayutthaya period. The ordination hall was built in the Late Ayutthaya style
(1629-1767). The hall has two elevated porches with each two entries and the two-
tiered roof is supported by four columns. The longest walls of ubosot have five windows
each. The hall is surrounded by an inner wall or crystal wall (Th: Kamphaeng Kaew)
demarcating the sacred area.
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown. The site is not
indicated on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926. This could be an
indication that this monastery was constructed after 1926 as a substitute for the old Wat
Klang.
Near Wat Klang and Wat Nak was one of the five former ferry crossings across the
Chao Phraya River, linking the monasteries with Tha Wang Chai (Wang Chai landing).
(2) [1]
The area was important as the Marine Vessel Dockyard was situated near the mouth of
Khlong Takhian and housed 30 marine warships and 100 more smaller fighting vessels
under the supervision of the Phraya Rachawangsan. [3]
Footnotes:
(1) Also called Khu Lakhon Chai or "Le Canal du Grand Cochon" (Great Cochon
River). A floating market (Khlong Khu Lakhon Chai market) was held at the mouth of
this canal. [2]
(2) In Ayutthayan times there were twenty-two ferry routes between the main land and
the city island. The southern area had six crossings: Hua Sarapha
to Wat Phanan Choeng, Tha Hoi to Wat Pa Jak, Tha Phra Rachawangsan to Wat Khun
Phrom, Tha Dan Chi to Wat Surintharam, Tha Chakrai Noi to Wat Tha Rap and Tha
Wang Chai to Wat Nak. [1] See "The Boat & Ferry Landings of Ayutthaya".
(3) Following Chularatana, the Phraya Racha Wangsan was the division chief of the
Krom Asa Cham, in charge of the Cham communities in Ayutthaya. [4]
References:
[1] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒และภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - Explanation of the map of the
Capital of Ayutthaya with a ruling of Phraya Boran Rachathanin - Revised 2nd edition
and Geography of the Ayutthaya Kingdom - Ton Chabab print office - Nonthaburi
(2007) - page 91.
[2] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 272.
[3] Ibid - page 297.
[4] The Shi’ite Muslims in Thailand from Ayutthaya Period to the Present - Julispong
Chularatana.
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| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - February 2010 |
| (Ubosot from the east) |
| (Ubosot - side view) |