| WAT LUANG (วัดหลวง) |
Wat Luang or the "Royal Monastery" was located off the city island in the northern
area of Ayutthaya in Wat Tum sub-district.
The monastery features only on a 1993 Fine Arts Department map.
In situ is a large brick mound. Some digging occurred recently and a lot of bricks - likely
from the temple foundations - were excavated. On the west side, three large Bodhi trees
(Ficus Religiosa) remain as still witnesses.
The historical background and period of construction of this former monastery are
unknown.
Wat Luang stood northeast of Wat Tum and east of Wat Sasada. The temple was
situated within a loop of the old Lopburi River of which the southern part is at present
called Khlong Wat Tum. At a certain moment a short cut or "khlong lat" had been dug to
straighten the Lopburi River. The latter canal was called Khlong Bang Khoat referring to
the village Ban Bang Khoat in which vicinity the canal was dug.
The monastery could have been named after a village called Ban Bang Luang. In
old texts we find for example the Bang Luang tax station and a Bang Luang canal
referring as thus to a location called Bang Luang. [1] The tax station though is situated
more north of Wat Luang near Wat Tha Yak, south of Wat Dao Khanong.
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 94.
area of Ayutthaya in Wat Tum sub-district.
The monastery features only on a 1993 Fine Arts Department map.
In situ is a large brick mound. Some digging occurred recently and a lot of bricks - likely
from the temple foundations - were excavated. On the west side, three large Bodhi trees
(Ficus Religiosa) remain as still witnesses.
The historical background and period of construction of this former monastery are
unknown.
Wat Luang stood northeast of Wat Tum and east of Wat Sasada. The temple was
situated within a loop of the old Lopburi River of which the southern part is at present
called Khlong Wat Tum. At a certain moment a short cut or "khlong lat" had been dug to
straighten the Lopburi River. The latter canal was called Khlong Bang Khoat referring to
the village Ban Bang Khoat in which vicinity the canal was dug.
The monastery could have been named after a village called Ban Bang Luang. In
old texts we find for example the Bang Luang tax station and a Bang Luang canal
referring as thus to a location called Bang Luang. [1] The tax station though is situated
more north of Wat Luang near Wat Tha Yak, south of Wat Dao Khanong.
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 94.
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| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenbergh - May 2009 Reviewed August 2011 |
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| (View of the location) |
| (Scattered bricks in situ) |
| (Digging in situ - anno 2009) |
| (Extract of a 1993 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Khun Supot Prommanot, Director of the 3th Regional Office of Fine Arts) |
| (Click thumbnail for an aerial view) |