| WAT PHO PHUEAK 1 (วัดโพธิเผือก) |
| Wat Pho Phueak is located in the Phai Ling area near Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon within the boundaries of a modern sports complex. This deserted monastery can be easily seen from the main entrance. A monument to the father of Thai Boxing stands in front of it. This main architectural feature of this ruin is a small sermon hall (vihara). It has been restored by the Fine Arts Department and the two sidewalls of the temple still stand. The floor and basic foundation of the sermon hall have also been restored. Traces of an outer wall can also be seen, but there are no remains of a former chedi. There is no historic record for when this monastery was built; however, there is evidence that earth walls once passed through this southeastern area but were knocked over to make room for rice fields. In 1972, construction work was suspended on an extension of an agricultural school in this area after machinery dug up the remains of at least five temples. It is therefore interesting to note that virtually all of the buildings in this sports complex were constructed above the ground without further digging. |
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| Text by Ken May - December 2008 |
| (View of the ruin of Wat Pho Phueak) |
| (View of the ruin of Wat Pho Phueak) |
| (Detail of a 1993 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Khun Supot Prommanot, Director of the 3th Regional Office of Fine Arts) |
| Addendum Wat Pho Phueak or the Monastery of the White Bodhi Tree is at present only a ruin of single building, being prior a prayer hall. The vihara was aligned on an east-west axis and built with bricks and mortar. It had as usual a rectangular shape. The structure was 8.80 meters wide and 14.90 meters long. Wat Pho Phueak is situated on the West - East axis Wat Dusit - Wat Rerai - Wat Khok Phra Non - Wat Pho Phuaek - Wat Fai Mai. Based on an interview with Khun Chin near Wat Wihan Satru on 16 March 2016, Wat Pho Phueak is not the original name of this site. Wat Pho Phueak was in fact the site today called Wat Maklam. The ruins of Wat Pho Phueak are located in geographical coordinates: 14° 21' 3.53" N, 100° 35' 50.22" E. |
| Addendum, photographs & maps by Tricky Vandenberg Last update March 2016 |