| WAT VIHARN KHAO |
Wat Viharn Khao or the "Monastery of the White Sermon Hall" is an unrestored ruin,
located just west of Wat Ayodhya, outside the City Island in Tambon Hantra. In situ are
a brick mound covered with vegetation and the remainders of a bell-shaped chedi.
Its style is associated with the Middle Ayutthaya period, although there are no records of
its original construction or its historical background. The chedi stands in line with the
large chedi of Wat Ayodhya, which could be an indication that once this ruin could have
been part of a larger monastery.
The site has been victim of treasure farming in earlier times, as can be seen from the
many holes dug into this chedi by looters. One hole is burrowed all the way through so
that you can see the sky on the other side. Other holes have resulted in large cracks.
Given that seasonal flooding is common in this area the temple's stability is in question.
There are traces of an east-oriented unexcavated monastic structure, with shattered
pieces of Buddha images.
located just west of Wat Ayodhya, outside the City Island in Tambon Hantra. In situ are
a brick mound covered with vegetation and the remainders of a bell-shaped chedi.
Its style is associated with the Middle Ayutthaya period, although there are no records of
its original construction or its historical background. The chedi stands in line with the
large chedi of Wat Ayodhya, which could be an indication that once this ruin could have
been part of a larger monastery.
The site has been victim of treasure farming in earlier times, as can be seen from the
many holes dug into this chedi by looters. One hole is burrowed all the way through so
that you can see the sky on the other side. Other holes have resulted in large cracks.
Given that seasonal flooding is common in this area the temple's stability is in question.
There are traces of an east-oriented unexcavated monastic structure, with shattered
pieces of Buddha images.
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| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - April 2009 |
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