| WAT SUWAN CHEDI (วัดสุวรรณเจดีย์) |
Wat Suwan Chedi or the "Monastery of the Golden Chedi" is a restored ruin located
on the city island at Tha Wasukri sub-district. The site, near the property of a technical
school, can be reached via Kalahom Rd, running behind (or west of ) Wat Racha
Burana and linking Naresuan Rd with U-Thong Rd. The place is fenced off in order to
preserve the ruins, but can easily be accessed through the guarded entry of the school
premises.
Wat Suwan Chedi was located on the east bank of Khlong Pak Sra also called Lam
Khu Pak Sra, a canal linking the old Lopburi River (present Khlong Mueang or City
Canal) in the north with the water ring in the south. The canal had its southern mouth at
the Pratu Thep Mi, a water gate; hence the southern stretch of this canal was called
Khlong Pratu Thep Mi.
In situ are the foundations of multiple monastic structures. The main attraction is the ruin
of a large bell-shaped chedi with square harmika and a broken spire representing the 31
planes of existence. West of it are the foundations of an ordination hall with some broken
parts of Buddha images on top. A number of satellite chedis and foundations of other
buildings are spread all over the site. Some parts of - what was likely - the outer wall still
can be seen.
Its historical background and period of construction are unknown. An old plate in situ
indicates that this temple was built in the Middle Ayutthaya period, and later restored
during the Late Ayutthaya period.
The site is indicated on a map drafted in the mid-19th century and on Phraya Boran
Rachathanin's map of 1926. The mid-19th century map indicates the existence of a chedi.
on the city island at Tha Wasukri sub-district. The site, near the property of a technical
school, can be reached via Kalahom Rd, running behind (or west of ) Wat Racha
Burana and linking Naresuan Rd with U-Thong Rd. The place is fenced off in order to
preserve the ruins, but can easily be accessed through the guarded entry of the school
premises.
Wat Suwan Chedi was located on the east bank of Khlong Pak Sra also called Lam
Khu Pak Sra, a canal linking the old Lopburi River (present Khlong Mueang or City
Canal) in the north with the water ring in the south. The canal had its southern mouth at
the Pratu Thep Mi, a water gate; hence the southern stretch of this canal was called
Khlong Pratu Thep Mi.
In situ are the foundations of multiple monastic structures. The main attraction is the ruin
of a large bell-shaped chedi with square harmika and a broken spire representing the 31
planes of existence. West of it are the foundations of an ordination hall with some broken
parts of Buddha images on top. A number of satellite chedis and foundations of other
buildings are spread all over the site. Some parts of - what was likely - the outer wall still
can be seen.
Its historical background and period of construction are unknown. An old plate in situ
indicates that this temple was built in the Middle Ayutthaya period, and later restored
during the Late Ayutthaya period.
The site is indicated on a map drafted in the mid-19th century and on Phraya Boran
Rachathanin's map of 1926. The mid-19th century map indicates the existence of a chedi.
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| (Click thumbnail for an aerial view) |
| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - May 2010 Review - January 2011 |
| Site view of Wat Suwan Chedi shortly after receding of the flood which hit the Historic City of Ayutthaya and its Historical Park in the evening of 7 October 2011. Pictures were taken on 28 November, three weeks after the much announced Ayutthaya Clean-up Day. This site needs urgent restoration as part of the Ayutthaya Historical Park. (Pictures by Tricky Vandenberg) |
| (View from the west - on the foundations of the hall) |
| (View from the south) |
| (View from the east) |