| WAT LANGKHA KHAO |
This temple ruin is located in an open field within the Ayutthaya Historic Park. It is
easily seen from the southern side of Naresuan Road.
There is a single bell-shaped chedi in situ at Wat Langkha Khao. It has been renovated
by the Fine Arts Department. The chedi has an octagonal base with several layers
leading to its relic chamber. There are approximately 19 rings on its spire. The finial is
missing, but the harmika is in good shape with a full covering of stucco. There is
entrance on the eastern side of the chedi. The inner chamber is hollow and full of bats.
There are no other structures viewable at this site. Wat Langka Kao was aligned toward
the east/west axis. Given the similarity in their names, this monastery probably had some
connection with Wat Langkha Dam.
There isn’t much historical information available about this temple. The name refers to
the white tiles that were once on its roof. Wat Langka Khao was situated along a road
beside Khlong Nam Cheawn - a canal that brought fast moving water from Khlong
Mueang (the old Lopburi River) to Bueng Phra Ram. The water flow of this canal was
regulated by a gate known as Pratu Tasibiay. A portion of the gate’s wall can still be
seen along U-Thong Road. This canal was aligned with a number of temples: Wat Chum
Saeng, Wat Yan Sen, Wat Sangkha Pat, Wat Phong, and Wat Langkha Dam - the
latter temple being separated only by a small moat. This monastery was surrounded by
water at one time, but it was covered with landfill while constructing the Historical Park
during the 1950s-1960s.
easily seen from the southern side of Naresuan Road.
There is a single bell-shaped chedi in situ at Wat Langkha Khao. It has been renovated
by the Fine Arts Department. The chedi has an octagonal base with several layers
leading to its relic chamber. There are approximately 19 rings on its spire. The finial is
missing, but the harmika is in good shape with a full covering of stucco. There is
entrance on the eastern side of the chedi. The inner chamber is hollow and full of bats.
There are no other structures viewable at this site. Wat Langka Kao was aligned toward
the east/west axis. Given the similarity in their names, this monastery probably had some
connection with Wat Langkha Dam.
There isn’t much historical information available about this temple. The name refers to
the white tiles that were once on its roof. Wat Langka Khao was situated along a road
beside Khlong Nam Cheawn - a canal that brought fast moving water from Khlong
Mueang (the old Lopburi River) to Bueng Phra Ram. The water flow of this canal was
regulated by a gate known as Pratu Tasibiay. A portion of the gate’s wall can still be
seen along U-Thong Road. This canal was aligned with a number of temples: Wat Chum
Saeng, Wat Yan Sen, Wat Sangkha Pat, Wat Phong, and Wat Langkha Dam - the
latter temple being separated only by a small moat. This monastery was surrounded by
water at one time, but it was covered with landfill while constructing the Historical Park
during the 1950s-1960s.
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| Text & photographs by Ken May - August 2009 |
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Addendum
The water flow of Khlong Nam Chiao was not regulated by the gate known as Pratu Tha
Sip Bia (the Gate of the Landing of the Ten Cowries). This gate was a large land gate in
the northern city wall situated near the northeastern corner of the outer wall of Wat
Thammikarat.
Following Phraya Boran Rachathanin (PBR) the Nam Chiao canal entered the city two
entries further to the east at an entrance called Chong Maha Thera Mai Sae. The canal
aligned with Wat Chum Saeng, Wat Langkha Khao, Wat Langkha Dam, Wat Sangkha
Pat, and Wat Phong mentioned above, was called Lam Khu Pak Sra. [1] This author
believes that the local people could have called the latter Khlong Nam Chiao, but this
is in contradiction with PBR writings.
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 53.
The water flow of Khlong Nam Chiao was not regulated by the gate known as Pratu Tha
Sip Bia (the Gate of the Landing of the Ten Cowries). This gate was a large land gate in
the northern city wall situated near the northeastern corner of the outer wall of Wat
Thammikarat.
Following Phraya Boran Rachathanin (PBR) the Nam Chiao canal entered the city two
entries further to the east at an entrance called Chong Maha Thera Mai Sae. The canal
aligned with Wat Chum Saeng, Wat Langkha Khao, Wat Langkha Dam, Wat Sangkha
Pat, and Wat Phong mentioned above, was called Lam Khu Pak Sra. [1] This author
believes that the local people could have called the latter Khlong Nam Chiao, but this
is in contradiction with PBR writings.
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 53.
| Addendum by Tricky Vandenberg - May 2011 |
| (Click thumbnail for an aerial view) |
| Site view of Wat Langkha Khao shortly after the flood which hit the Historic City of Ayutthaya and its Historical Park in the evening of 7 October 2011. Pictures were taken on 21 November 2011. (Photographs by Tricky Vandenberg) |