| WAT MAHA THALAI |
Wat Maha Thalai is located in the Phai Ling area within a sports complex outside of
the city island. The deserted monastery can be found behind a building used for sports. It
is difficult to see and covered in heavy vegetation most of the time.
The architectural design consists of one sermon hall. There is not a clear trace of any
chedi or outer walls. However, one large wall of the sermon hall has survived. This wall
is propped up by metal scaffolding to prevent it from falling over. The Fine Arts
Department has made some recent restorations at Wat Maha Thalai.
There is no historic record of this monastery; however, there is evidence that earth walls
once passed through this southeastern area but were knocked over to make room for
rice fields. This could explain Wat Maha Thalai's location at such a remote site.
In 1972, construction work was suspended on an extension of an agricultural school in
this area after machinery dug up the remains of at least five temples. It is therefore
interesting to note that virtually all of the buildings in this sports complex were
constructed above the ground without further digging.
the city island. The deserted monastery can be found behind a building used for sports. It
is difficult to see and covered in heavy vegetation most of the time.
The architectural design consists of one sermon hall. There is not a clear trace of any
chedi or outer walls. However, one large wall of the sermon hall has survived. This wall
is propped up by metal scaffolding to prevent it from falling over. The Fine Arts
Department has made some recent restorations at Wat Maha Thalai.
There is no historic record of this monastery; however, there is evidence that earth walls
once passed through this southeastern area but were knocked over to make room for
rice fields. This could explain Wat Maha Thalai's location at such a remote site.
In 1972, construction work was suspended on an extension of an agricultural school in
this area after machinery dug up the remains of at least five temples. It is therefore
interesting to note that virtually all of the buildings in this sports complex were
constructed above the ground without further digging.
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| Text by Ken May - December 2008 Photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - December 2008 |