WAT THA SAI 1 (วัดท่าทราย) |
This temple ruin is located on the city island along U-Thong Road. It is situated near the bridge that crosses Khlong Mueang toward Wat Wong Khong. Although it could be technically classified as a ruin, Wat Tha Sai is now considered part of Wat Racha Praditsathan’s property. The latter is an active monastery. Wat Tha Sai was located next to Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak, which once separated it from Wat Rachapraditsathan (on the opposite side of the canal). This canal has been filled in for the most part, leaving a small pond on the premises. Traces of a fortress (Pom Khao Pluak) and a water gate (Pratu Khao Pluak) can still be seen in situ. There are many ancient architectural structures on site. The central chedi resembles a style most commonly associated with the Haripunchai Kingdom. The chedi takes the shape of an octagonal tower with multiple arched niches that hold standing Buddha images - several of which can still be seen today. This style of chedi can be seen in Lamphun, which suggests that this monastery might have had some connection with the Lanna kingdom. There are at least three chedi in Ayutthaya with a similar style: Wat Sangkha Tha in the Queen Srinakarin Park, WatSangkha Pat in the Ayutthaya Historic Park, and one inside the boundary walls of Wat Maha That. In the location where the original sermon hall would have been is an open-air shrine containing several rows of beautiful, white-painted, mediating Buddha images. A makeshift tin roof was constructed in situ, but it collapsed due to a major wind storm in July, 2009. Unfortunately, the collapsed roof caused major damage to the Buddha images and several chedi, and it will require significant funding to make repairs. Also is situ at Wat Tha Sai are several bell-shaped chedi and dozens of memorial monuments (with a surprisingly large amount of Chinese headstones). An old ubosot stands to the south of the shrine, part of its tiled roof still intact. A second building rests behind it. Although badly dilapidated and covered in graffiti, inside the second structure, there are the remains of several Buddha images within arched niches. Wat Tha Sai has also several shrines including a reclining Buddha image. A large modern mondop covered in brown tiles really stands out on the premises, but this is usually closed to public viewing. The history of Wat Tha Sai is unclear. In the Ayutthaya period, Wat Tha Sai was an important ferry crossing point that was connected to Wat Wong Khong on the other side (Kasetsiri & Hedges 329). This monastery was set in a prime location because of it access to the water gate in front of Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak. Royal Chronicles point out that enemy troops from Lawaek - Cambodia - were posted at Wat Rong Khong Monastery in 1570 (Cushman 77). Some sources say that Wat Tha Sai also played a role in this war with Lawaek troops. Locals have claimed that the enemy fired rounds toward the fortress next to Wat Tha Sai and attempted to collapse the walls in front of this monastery. However, more investigation needs to be made about this claim. |
(Buddha image in the location of the former vihara) |
(Reclining Buddha behind a monastic structure) |
(Satellite chedi on the premises of Wat Tha Sai) |
(Storm damage in July 2009) |
Addendum & maps by Tricky Vandenberg - December 2015 |
(Detail of a 19th century map - Courtesy of the Sam Chao Phraya Museum - map is orientated S-N) |
(Detail of Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map - Anno 1926) |
(Detail of a 2007 Fine Arts Department GIS map - Courtesy of the Fine Arts Department - 3th Region) |
(Text by Ken May - August 2009) |