| WAT MONTHOP 1 |
Wat Monthop (mondop/mandapa) or the “Monastery of the Spired Building” as
Cushman translated it in his Royal Chronicles, is situated on Ko Loy (floating island) in
the northeastern area at Hua Ro sub-district. The temple stood before on main land. The
creation of the small islands Ko Loy and Ko Chong Lom due to digging of new water
shortcuts dates from the post Ayutthaya-era.
Wat Monthop is located opposite the canal at the open market in front of the
Chantrakasem Museum and the tourist main long tail boat landing.
The monastery is mentioned in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya during the last
Burmese war of 1766-1767. The Burmese under General Nemiao finalized their
encirclement of Ayutthaya after having reached and burnt down the Throne Hall at the
Elephant Kraal. The invaders established stockades here in the north-east at Wat Chedi
Daeng, Wat Sam Viharn and Wat Monthop. Bastions were erected in the stockades
from where large guns fired into the city. [1] The main military effort appeared to have
been at the weir called "Hua Ro". General Nemiao ordered the troops at the three
mentioned stockades to build a bamboo slat bridge across the Lopburi River at the weir
besides the Maha Chai Fortress. The bamboo bridge was protected against gun fire by
screens on both sides. The Burmese finally crossed this bridge and established a new
stockade on the other bank of the Lopburi River near the Pavilion of Earth outside the
walls. From this stockade the attackers dug a tunnel lengthwise under the foundations of
the wall and stocked firewood in it. On Tuesday 28 April 1767, a large barrage gun fire
was opened on the city by the Burmese in the late afternoon and the combustibles at the
foundations of the wall were set alight. The walls collapsed in the evening and the
Burmese overwhelmed the city of Ayutthaya. [2]
The temple stood on the east bank of the Front city canal, in front of the Chantrakasem
Palace, which housed the Uparat or crown prince and likely had an important religious
function in the 17th and 18th century. In situ are the classic monastic structures of a
Buddhist monastery; ordination hall, vihara, bell-tower, etc.
Its period of construction is unknown. The site is indicated on Phraya Boran
Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.
References:
[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman - p517 / Source: Royal
Autograph.
[2] Ibid - p520
Cushman translated it in his Royal Chronicles, is situated on Ko Loy (floating island) in
the northeastern area at Hua Ro sub-district. The temple stood before on main land. The
creation of the small islands Ko Loy and Ko Chong Lom due to digging of new water
shortcuts dates from the post Ayutthaya-era.
Wat Monthop is located opposite the canal at the open market in front of the
Chantrakasem Museum and the tourist main long tail boat landing.
The monastery is mentioned in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya during the last
Burmese war of 1766-1767. The Burmese under General Nemiao finalized their
encirclement of Ayutthaya after having reached and burnt down the Throne Hall at the
Elephant Kraal. The invaders established stockades here in the north-east at Wat Chedi
Daeng, Wat Sam Viharn and Wat Monthop. Bastions were erected in the stockades
from where large guns fired into the city. [1] The main military effort appeared to have
been at the weir called "Hua Ro". General Nemiao ordered the troops at the three
mentioned stockades to build a bamboo slat bridge across the Lopburi River at the weir
besides the Maha Chai Fortress. The bamboo bridge was protected against gun fire by
screens on both sides. The Burmese finally crossed this bridge and established a new
stockade on the other bank of the Lopburi River near the Pavilion of Earth outside the
walls. From this stockade the attackers dug a tunnel lengthwise under the foundations of
the wall and stocked firewood in it. On Tuesday 28 April 1767, a large barrage gun fire
was opened on the city by the Burmese in the late afternoon and the combustibles at the
foundations of the wall were set alight. The walls collapsed in the evening and the
Burmese overwhelmed the city of Ayutthaya. [2]
The temple stood on the east bank of the Front city canal, in front of the Chantrakasem
Palace, which housed the Uparat or crown prince and likely had an important religious
function in the 17th and 18th century. In situ are the classic monastic structures of a
Buddhist monastery; ordination hall, vihara, bell-tower, etc.
Its period of construction is unknown. The site is indicated on Phraya Boran
Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.
References:
[1] The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya - Richard D. Cushman - p517 / Source: Royal
Autograph.
[2] Ibid - p520
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| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - February 2010 |