| WAT MAKLAM |
Wat Maklam is located in the Phai Ling area within a sports complex outside of the
city island. The deserted ruin can be found on the outskirts next to a road that encircles
the sports complex. It is difficult to see and covered in heavy vegetation most of the time.
Unfortunately, a great amount of garbage has been dumped on this historic site.
The architectural design consists of two structures. This monastery has been serious
eroded, so it is difficult to make claims without further excavation. One eastern-oriented
sermon hall contains traces of an altar with various stacks of disassembled Buddha
images. A second building can be found behind this, which looks as if its floor has
undergone some restoration. Both structures consist of only the basic foundation and
neither of them have surviving walls. There is not a clear trace of a chedi, but there is a
small mound that may contain the remains of one.
There is no historic record for this monastery; however, the Fine Arts Department lists
other temples within this sports complex as middle Ayutthaya period constructions.
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 Maklam's existence
in such a remote location.
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.
city island. The deserted ruin can be found on the outskirts next to a road that encircles
the sports complex. It is difficult to see and covered in heavy vegetation most of the time.
Unfortunately, a great amount of garbage has been dumped on this historic site.
The architectural design consists of two structures. This monastery has been serious
eroded, so it is difficult to make claims without further excavation. One eastern-oriented
sermon hall contains traces of an altar with various stacks of disassembled Buddha
images. A second building can be found behind this, which looks as if its floor has
undergone some restoration. Both structures consist of only the basic foundation and
neither of them have surviving walls. There is not a clear trace of a chedi, but there is a
small mound that may contain the remains of one.
There is no historic record for this monastery; however, the Fine Arts Department lists
other temples within this sports complex as middle Ayutthaya period constructions.
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 Maklam's existence
in such a remote location.
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 - May 2009 Photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - December 2008 |
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