| WAT LOT CHONG (วัดลอดช่อง) |
Wat Lot Chong is an active temple located off the city island in the western area of
Ayutthaya in Ban Pom sub-district. Khlong Klaeb with its mouth at the Chao Phraya
River ran south of it. In the northeast stood the presently defunct Wat Racha Phli and in
the south Wat Chai Watthanaram.
In situ we find an ordination hall (Th: ubosot), an open sided vihara with seating Buddha
statue and other monastic structures. The ubosot was built in the Early Ayutthaya style
(1351 - 1488), but its construction dates from the Late Ratanakosin period (after 1851
AD). The hall has two elevated porches with each two entries and the porch roof is
supported by four columns. The roof of the building is three-tiered, while the
longest walls have five windows each. The ordination hall is surrounded by eight "bai
sema" or boundary stones, placed in the cardinal and inter-cardinal directions and
protected from the elements by small open-sided structures. The boundary stones are
double, indicating former royal patronage (1). The complex is surrounded by an inner
wall or crystal wall (Th: Kamphaeng Kaew) demarcating the sacred area.
Wat Lot Chong is named after a Thai sweet, which was produced in earlier times in the
vicinity of this temple by the locals. The refreshing sweet is made of green tapioca
noodles, coconut milk, sweet syrup and water.
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.
The site is indicated on a mid-19th century map but not on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's
map drafted in 1926. On the oldest map we find the presence of a chedi.
Near Wat Lot Chong was one of the former four western ferries across the old Lopburi
River - at present the Chao Phraya River (2) - linking the monastery with the Rear
Palace Landing (Tha Phra Racha Wang Lang). (3) [1]
Footnotes:
(1) At present this temple is not listed as having royal patronage.
(2) The Chao Phraya River has been deviated into the river bed of the old Lopburi River
in the post-Ayutthayan era anno 1857. See the essay: Ayutthaya's ever-changing
waterways.
(3) In Ayutthayan times there were twenty-two ferry routes. In the western area, the
three other crossings were: from Wat Chayaram to Ban Chi, from Tha Dan Lom to Wat
Kasatra and from Ban Chao Phraya Phonlathep’s residence to Wat Thamma. [1] See
"The Boat & Ferry Landings of Ayutthaya".
References:
[1] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒ และ ภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (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 92.
Ayutthaya in Ban Pom sub-district. Khlong Klaeb with its mouth at the Chao Phraya
River ran south of it. In the northeast stood the presently defunct Wat Racha Phli and in
the south Wat Chai Watthanaram.
In situ we find an ordination hall (Th: ubosot), an open sided vihara with seating Buddha
statue and other monastic structures. The ubosot was built in the Early Ayutthaya style
(1351 - 1488), but its construction dates from the Late Ratanakosin period (after 1851
AD). The hall has two elevated porches with each two entries and the porch roof is
supported by four columns. The roof of the building is three-tiered, while the
longest walls have five windows each. The ordination hall is surrounded by eight "bai
sema" or boundary stones, placed in the cardinal and inter-cardinal directions and
protected from the elements by small open-sided structures. The boundary stones are
double, indicating former royal patronage (1). The complex is surrounded by an inner
wall or crystal wall (Th: Kamphaeng Kaew) demarcating the sacred area.
Wat Lot Chong is named after a Thai sweet, which was produced in earlier times in the
vicinity of this temple by the locals. The refreshing sweet is made of green tapioca
noodles, coconut milk, sweet syrup and water.
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.
The site is indicated on a mid-19th century map but not on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's
map drafted in 1926. On the oldest map we find the presence of a chedi.
Near Wat Lot Chong was one of the former four western ferries across the old Lopburi
River - at present the Chao Phraya River (2) - linking the monastery with the Rear
Palace Landing (Tha Phra Racha Wang Lang). (3) [1]
Footnotes:
(1) At present this temple is not listed as having royal patronage.
(2) The Chao Phraya River has been deviated into the river bed of the old Lopburi River
in the post-Ayutthayan era anno 1857. See the essay: Ayutthaya's ever-changing
waterways.
(3) In Ayutthayan times there were twenty-two ferry routes. In the western area, the
three other crossings were: from Wat Chayaram to Ban Chi, from Tha Dan Lom to Wat
Kasatra and from Ban Chao Phraya Phonlathep’s residence to Wat Thamma. [1] See
"The Boat & Ferry Landings of Ayutthaya".
References:
[1] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒ และ ภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (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 92.
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| (View of the ordination hall) |
| (Inside the ordination hall) |
| (Bai sema or boundary stone) |
| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - February 2010 Review May 2011 |
| (View of the ubosot) |
| (Sala in situ) |