| WAT WONG KHONG |
Wat Wong Khong is located off the main island - in the northern part of the city. This
active monastery can easily be reached by motor vehicle by crossing the bridge on
Chikun Road or by boat from Khlong Mueang (the old Lopburi River). The monastery’s
location by the river is vulnerable to flooding, so many of the older structures have
suffered damage.
Wat Wong Khong is a single monastery, but a modern road cuts through the center of it.
On the side of the canal, there are several sermon halls and some kuti where monks live.
These have been built in the modern Ratanakosin style. A large Chinese shrine was built
a few years ago featuring a god with multiple arms. There are two chedi beside the road.
Both are decorated with the lotus design and have several redented corners. This style is
suggestive of the Late Ayutthaya period. Both chedi are full of holes from looting and
covered with soot from car exhaust.
The opposite side of the road contains the more active preaching hall. Three large bell-
shaped chedi are located in a courtyard on the west side of this building. This area has
been renovated with floor tiles and an improved foundation layer. A few smaller chedi
are also located in the same area. The style of chedi suggests that this temple is
connected to the middle-Ayutthaya period, and Royal Chronicles support this idea.
Wat Wong Khong is mentioned in relation to a war with Lawaek (Cambodia) in 1570.
During the reign of King Maha Thammaracha, the Khmer king advanced with his armies
to the Siamese capital and set up an elephant stockade at Wat Sam Vihan. The enemy
troops were posted at intervals from there to Wat Rong Khong Monastery and Kuti
Thong monastery. Thirty elephants were also halted at Wat Na Phra Meru with 4-5
thousand men (Cushman 77). Ayutthaya troops, however, were able to kill the Lawaek
commander, Phra Campathirat, by firing cannons directly at enemy troops barricaded at
Wat Sam Vihan. Phra Campathirat died while still perched on the neck of his elephant,
and Lawaek troops then retreated from the capital.
In the Ayutthaya period, Wat Wong Khong was an important ferry crossing point that
connected to Wat Tha Sai on the other side (Kasetsiri & Hedges 329). This monastery
was set in a prime location because it provided vital access to Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak
(approximately where Chikun Road is today).
active monastery can easily be reached by motor vehicle by crossing the bridge on
Chikun Road or by boat from Khlong Mueang (the old Lopburi River). The monastery’s
location by the river is vulnerable to flooding, so many of the older structures have
suffered damage.
Wat Wong Khong is a single monastery, but a modern road cuts through the center of it.
On the side of the canal, there are several sermon halls and some kuti where monks live.
These have been built in the modern Ratanakosin style. A large Chinese shrine was built
a few years ago featuring a god with multiple arms. There are two chedi beside the road.
Both are decorated with the lotus design and have several redented corners. This style is
suggestive of the Late Ayutthaya period. Both chedi are full of holes from looting and
covered with soot from car exhaust.
The opposite side of the road contains the more active preaching hall. Three large bell-
shaped chedi are located in a courtyard on the west side of this building. This area has
been renovated with floor tiles and an improved foundation layer. A few smaller chedi
are also located in the same area. The style of chedi suggests that this temple is
connected to the middle-Ayutthaya period, and Royal Chronicles support this idea.
Wat Wong Khong is mentioned in relation to a war with Lawaek (Cambodia) in 1570.
During the reign of King Maha Thammaracha, the Khmer king advanced with his armies
to the Siamese capital and set up an elephant stockade at Wat Sam Vihan. The enemy
troops were posted at intervals from there to Wat Rong Khong Monastery and Kuti
Thong monastery. Thirty elephants were also halted at Wat Na Phra Meru with 4-5
thousand men (Cushman 77). Ayutthaya troops, however, were able to kill the Lawaek
commander, Phra Campathirat, by firing cannons directly at enemy troops barricaded at
Wat Sam Vihan. Phra Campathirat died while still perched on the neck of his elephant,
and Lawaek troops then retreated from the capital.
In the Ayutthaya period, Wat Wong Khong was an important ferry crossing point that
connected to Wat Tha Sai on the other side (Kasetsiri & Hedges 329). This monastery
was set in a prime location because it provided vital access to Khlong Pratu Khao Pluak
(approximately where Chikun Road is today).
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| Text & photographs by Ken May - August 2009 |
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| (Click button for aerial view) |
Addendum
The temple was before known as Wat Rong Khong. There was a boat ferry between
Wat Tha Sai (Sand Landing) to Wat Rong Khong. In the Ayutthayan era there were
twenty-two ferry routes between the main land and the city island. The northern side had
seven ferries. The six other crossings were: Tha Nuea to Wat Khun Yuan, Tha Khan to
Sala Trawen, Tha Sip Bia to Wat Pho, Wat Song to Wat Pa Khonthi and Tha Khun
Nang to Wat Mae Nang Plum. [1] See "The Boat & Ferry Landings of Ayutthaya".
References:
[1] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒และภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - Explanation of the map of the
Capital of Ayutthaya with a ruling of Phraya Boran Rachathanin - Revised 2nd edition
and Geography of the Ayutthaya Kingdom - Ton Chabab print office - Nonthaburi
(2007) - page 92.
The temple was before known as Wat Rong Khong. There was a boat ferry between
Wat Tha Sai (Sand Landing) to Wat Rong Khong. In the Ayutthayan era there were
twenty-two ferry routes between the main land and the city island. The northern side had
seven ferries. The six other crossings were: Tha Nuea to Wat Khun Yuan, Tha Khan to
Sala Trawen, Tha Sip Bia to Wat Pho, Wat Song to Wat Pa Khonthi and Tha Khun
Nang to Wat Mae Nang Plum. [1] See "The Boat & Ferry Landings of Ayutthaya".
References:
[1] อธิบายแผนที่พระนครศรีอยุธยากับคำวินิจฉัยของพระยาโบราฌราชาธานินท์
ฉบับชำระครั้งที่๒และภูมิสถนกรุงศรีอยุธยา (2007) - Explanation of the map of the
Capital of Ayutthaya with a ruling of Phraya Boran Rachathanin - Revised 2nd edition
and Geography of the Ayutthaya Kingdom - Ton Chabab print office - Nonthaburi
(2007) - page 92.
| Addendum & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - May 2011 |
| (Chedi rai at Wat Wong Khong) |
| (Chedi rai on premises) |
| (Flooding at the temple site) |
| (Resting pavillion on the old Lopburi River) |