| WAT PHRAYA KONG |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
This temple ruin is located off the main island in the southern area. It is hidden in a
nearby. Its remote location makes it one of the most difficult temples to find in the city.
Use extreme caution while hunting for this site. There are many poisonous snakes in the
vicinity.
There are at least two distinct structures and a surprisingly large number of Buddha
images in situ. The location of the statues in close proximity suggests that the monastery
had a gallery hall of some sort. Some of these images are quite large, and most of them
have been carved from stone by hand - in contrast to the brick and mortar style used at
other temples. Some heads are still intact, but looting is evident. A few have had their
faces sliced off leaving only a portion of the head.
One unexcavated building has several walls supporting it. There are traces of stucco
decorations, but the heavy vegetation makes an obstacle for getting a closer look. The
structure appears to be a preaching hall; however, the roof has collapsed and filled in
with debris over the years. Much of it is still buried underground. A second structure
appears to be a square-like chedi with multiple layers. Most of it has been buried by a
mound of soil, heavy vegetation, and other debris. It is possible to climb to the top of this
structure. Its roof has caved in leaving a big indentation. On the western side there
appears to be a large hole, but it is difficult to ascertain if it was dug by looter or an actual
entrance. Wat Phraya Kong has many other unexcavated mounds in situ that could be the
remains of smaller collapsed chedi.
More excavation is necessary to understand the layout of Wat Phraya Kong. The
monastery has an east/west alignment. Boundary walls can be seen in a few places. Many
of these brick have a different color and density than the ones normally found at other
temples in Ayutthaya. One mystery is why this monastery was constructed at this remote
location. The Chao Phraya River is several kilometers away. There isn't any clear
evidence of an ancient canal leading to the monastery; however, a small lake has formed
to its north. This may have provided some access at one time.
The history or this monastery is unknown. A map hanging on a wall in the Ayutthaya
Historical Study Center suggests that Wat Phraya Kong predated the establishment of
the city in 1350. The evidence for this claim is uncertain, but the presence of a large
number of laterite blocks (some of rather enormous size) suggests a Khmer background
– and it is generally believed that a small military outpost from Lopburi settled in this city
prior to King U-Thong’s arrival (Kasetsiri 75-89).
[Side note:] Royal Chronicles mention the dedication of the Monastery of the Mistress
Kham (Wat Nang Kham) in 1755. A three-day festival was held during which rain
started to downpour. A monk named Yan Rakkhit was able to control the wind and send
the storm away by practicing air meditation. He held the storm off until the festival ended
and the rain pored down once again (Cushman 454). The name of the monastery in this
story is slightly different, but it could have some connection to this site.
nearby. Its remote location makes it one of the most difficult temples to find in the city.
Use extreme caution while hunting for this site. There are many poisonous snakes in the
vicinity.
There are at least two distinct structures and a surprisingly large number of Buddha
images in situ. The location of the statues in close proximity suggests that the monastery
had a gallery hall of some sort. Some of these images are quite large, and most of them
have been carved from stone by hand - in contrast to the brick and mortar style used at
other temples. Some heads are still intact, but looting is evident. A few have had their
faces sliced off leaving only a portion of the head.
One unexcavated building has several walls supporting it. There are traces of stucco
decorations, but the heavy vegetation makes an obstacle for getting a closer look. The
structure appears to be a preaching hall; however, the roof has collapsed and filled in
with debris over the years. Much of it is still buried underground. A second structure
appears to be a square-like chedi with multiple layers. Most of it has been buried by a
mound of soil, heavy vegetation, and other debris. It is possible to climb to the top of this
structure. Its roof has caved in leaving a big indentation. On the western side there
appears to be a large hole, but it is difficult to ascertain if it was dug by looter or an actual
entrance. Wat Phraya Kong has many other unexcavated mounds in situ that could be the
remains of smaller collapsed chedi.
More excavation is necessary to understand the layout of Wat Phraya Kong. The
monastery has an east/west alignment. Boundary walls can be seen in a few places. Many
of these brick have a different color and density than the ones normally found at other
temples in Ayutthaya. One mystery is why this monastery was constructed at this remote
location. The Chao Phraya River is several kilometers away. There isn't any clear
evidence of an ancient canal leading to the monastery; however, a small lake has formed
to its north. This may have provided some access at one time.
The history or this monastery is unknown. A map hanging on a wall in the Ayutthaya
Historical Study Center suggests that Wat Phraya Kong predated the establishment of
the city in 1350. The evidence for this claim is uncertain, but the presence of a large
number of laterite blocks (some of rather enormous size) suggests a Khmer background
– and it is generally believed that a small military outpost from Lopburi settled in this city
prior to King U-Thong’s arrival (Kasetsiri 75-89).
[Side note:] Royal Chronicles mention the dedication of the Monastery of the Mistress
Kham (Wat Nang Kham) in 1755. A three-day festival was held during which rain
started to downpour. A monk named Yan Rakkhit was able to control the wind and send
the storm away by practicing air meditation. He held the storm off until the festival ended
and the rain pored down once again (Cushman 454). The name of the monastery in this
story is slightly different, but it could have some connection to this site.
| Text by Ken May - August 2009 |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  | |  |
Addendum
Wat Phraya Kong was revisited in July 2010. This temple stood once on the northern
border of the Portuguese enclave. The site has been altered, as a small meditation center
is being developed in situ by a Buddhist priest. The location has been cleared and
wooden resting places erected near the ruins of the former monastery.
The monastery stood probably on a cross road of canals linking the Chao Phraya,
Khlong Khu Cham and Wat Phraya Phan. On the 1944 aerial picture of the area
(Williams-Hunt Collection), the canals linking the Chao Phrao River to the north and east,
still can be observed as well as the moat surrounding the monastic complex.
Wat Phraya Kong is mentioned on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.
Wat Phraya Kong was revisited in July 2010. This temple stood once on the northern
border of the Portuguese enclave. The site has been altered, as a small meditation center
is being developed in situ by a Buddhist priest. The location has been cleared and
wooden resting places erected near the ruins of the former monastery.
The monastery stood probably on a cross road of canals linking the Chao Phraya,
Khlong Khu Cham and Wat Phraya Phan. On the 1944 aerial picture of the area
(Williams-Hunt Collection), the canals linking the Chao Phrao River to the north and east,
still can be observed as well as the moat surrounding the monastic complex.
Wat Phraya Kong is mentioned on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.
| Addendum & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - July 2010 |
