| WAT JAKRAWAT |
Wat Jakrawat (Chakrawat) also called Wat Chao Mon is a restored ruin located off
the City Island in the eastern area at Tambon Hantra. The former monastery is situated
on the west bank of Khlong Ayodhya, a canal which had its mouth on the old Pa Sak
River (present Khlong Hantra) and ran into Khlong Kudi Dao near the temple of the
same name. The temple can be reached by taking the northern road at Chedi Sam Plum,
a landmark when entering Ayutthaya from the south. Wat Kudi Dao lie opposite of it,
while to the north stands Wat Ayodhya. On its west side is Wat Pradu Songtham.
The area was probably already populated during the Dvaravati era (6th to the 11th
centuries). There is evidence that a community settled in this area much earlier than
1351, date of establishment of the city of Ayutthaya. Sources mention that around 850
AD the Khmers occupied the area and established a stronghold here, naming it Ayodhya
after the ancient and one of the holiest Hindu cities of India, the old capital of Awadh, in
the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
In situ we find an ordination hall (Th: ubosot) and its principal chedi. The ubosot
measured 30 m in length by 16 m in width and faced east . Only its restored foundations
remain visible. The structure had two entries in the front and two in the back. On its west
side stands the principal chedi. The chedi is bell-shaped and is positioned on a square
base. The harmika is octagonal oriented to the four cardinal and four inter-cardinal
directions and surmounted by the traditional spire or multi-tiered umbrella. The whole
complex is surrounded by an outer wall or crystal wall (Th: Kamphaeng Kaew)
measuring 55 m by 35 m and by a moat.
Following excavations conducted by the Fine arts Department the monastery has been
restored three times and probably dates from the Early Ayutthaya Period (1351 - 1491).
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown. The site is not
indicated on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.
the City Island in the eastern area at Tambon Hantra. The former monastery is situated
on the west bank of Khlong Ayodhya, a canal which had its mouth on the old Pa Sak
River (present Khlong Hantra) and ran into Khlong Kudi Dao near the temple of the
same name. The temple can be reached by taking the northern road at Chedi Sam Plum,
a landmark when entering Ayutthaya from the south. Wat Kudi Dao lie opposite of it,
while to the north stands Wat Ayodhya. On its west side is Wat Pradu Songtham.
The area was probably already populated during the Dvaravati era (6th to the 11th
centuries). There is evidence that a community settled in this area much earlier than
1351, date of establishment of the city of Ayutthaya. Sources mention that around 850
AD the Khmers occupied the area and established a stronghold here, naming it Ayodhya
after the ancient and one of the holiest Hindu cities of India, the old capital of Awadh, in
the Faizabad district of Uttar Pradesh.
In situ we find an ordination hall (Th: ubosot) and its principal chedi. The ubosot
measured 30 m in length by 16 m in width and faced east . Only its restored foundations
remain visible. The structure had two entries in the front and two in the back. On its west
side stands the principal chedi. The chedi is bell-shaped and is positioned on a square
base. The harmika is octagonal oriented to the four cardinal and four inter-cardinal
directions and surmounted by the traditional spire or multi-tiered umbrella. The whole
complex is surrounded by an outer wall or crystal wall (Th: Kamphaeng Kaew)
measuring 55 m by 35 m and by a moat.
Following excavations conducted by the Fine arts Department the monastery has been
restored three times and probably dates from the Early Ayutthaya Period (1351 - 1491).
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown. The site is not
indicated on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.
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| (View from the south) |
| (The principal chedi from the east) |
| (The principal chedi and ubosot from the east) |
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| Text & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - January 2010 |