| 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 at Tambon Pak Kran.
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. In the southern area, the
four other crossings were: the crossing to Wat Phanan Choeng, Tha Hoi (*) to Wat Pa
Chak (*), Tha Phraya Rachawangsan (3) to Wat Tharam (*). [1]
(3) Tha Phraya Rachawangsan was an important ferry located within the area at the
mouth of the Khu Cham Canal and used to cross between the south side and the capital.
The ferry was located near the house of Phraya Rachawangsan, hence its name. Some of
the Cham and Malay Muslims who were civil servants in the Krom Asa Cham, the
Cham Volunteer Corps - a division of the Ministry of Defense - must have used this
ferry to travel between the city and their communities at the Khu Cham Canal. [4]
(*) Could not be located by AHR.
References:
[1] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 329.
[2] Ibid - page 272.
[3] Ibid - page 297.
[4] The Shi’ite Muslims in Thailand from Ayutthaya Period to the Present - Julispong
Chularatana.
an active temple located off the City Island in the southern area at Tambon Pak Kran.
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. In the southern area, the
four other crossings were: the crossing to Wat Phanan Choeng, Tha Hoi (*) to Wat Pa
Chak (*), Tha Phraya Rachawangsan (3) to Wat Tharam (*). [1]
(3) Tha Phraya Rachawangsan was an important ferry located within the area at the
mouth of the Khu Cham Canal and used to cross between the south side and the capital.
The ferry was located near the house of Phraya Rachawangsan, hence its name. Some of
the Cham and Malay Muslims who were civil servants in the Krom Asa Cham, the
Cham Volunteer Corps - a division of the Ministry of Defense - must have used this
ferry to travel between the city and their communities at the Khu Cham Canal. [4]
(*) Could not be located by AHR.
References:
[1] Discovering Ayutthaya - Charnvit Kasetsiri & Michael Wright (2007) - page 329.
[2] Ibid - 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 |