| WAT SING NARAI (วัดสิงห์นารายณ์) |
Wat Sing Narai was located off the city island in the eastern area of Ayutthaya in Phai
Ling sub-district. The monastery stood in between the east bank of Khlong Ayodhya
and the west bank of Khlong Maheyong, but orientated to the latter.
The site was located adjacent to Wat Phlai Chumphon (situated on the Ayutthaya
Provincial Juvenile Center) and more or less opposite Wat Bot Racha Decha, which
stood opposite Khlong Ayodhya. The monastery was separated from Wat Phlai
Chumphon by a small canal splitting off from Khlong Ayodhya. Wat Sing Narai was
likely completely surrounded by a moat and was orientated east towards Khlong
Maheyong.
In situ are the remains of a collapsed chedi. East of the chedi we still can distinguish the
remnants of the former ordination hall and brickwork of what was once its inner wall.
The monastery must have been quite large for the time. Bricks, tiles and brickwork are
shattered over a wide area. Some sandstone pieces of broken Buddha images are still in
situ. Remains of what probably was an old pond still can be seen.
Multiple traces of fresh digging on the site were clearly visible.
The temple's historical background and period of construction are not known.
The monastery is indicated on a 1974 and 1993 Fine Arts Department map and situated
in Geo Coord: 14° 22' 0.66" N, 100° 35' 30.93" E.
The story behind: I visited this area earlier and found with the exception of some
scattered old bricks no specific relevant brickwork. Inquiries at that time in the Provincial
Juvenile Center did not result. One day I was searching for information on the internet
and stumbled on Chris Baker's Blog "Khun Chang Khun Phaen". On one of the pages
the author described his hunt for a certain temple and posted pictures of a temple ruin he
found in the vicinity of the Juvenile Center. I contacted Chris and he forwarded me the
coordinates of the site, and indeed it was the area I visited earlier.
Begin February I revisited the place again, knowing there should be brickwork. The first
half hour I found nothing again but scattered bricks. I started to hesitate. Was this the
location? The place was a small jungle with thorny bushes, low vegetation and stinging
red ants. I hit a kind of pond surrounded by very dense scrub. I decided to go deeper. I
crawled under some low branches next to the pond, ripped my camo pants, lost my
Indiana Jones hat and found myself in a "new area". First I saw only a large termite
mound. Going deeper I suddenly observed the contours of a five meter high mound of
collapsed bricks with on top remaining brickwork. Here was Wat Sing Narai. Why
didn't I found it earlier. Simply, I was looking adjacent the old Khlong Ayodhya, but the
remnants were more east, adjacent the old Khlong Maheyong. Thanks Chris! Without
your findings and inputs, I would never have encountered this site.
Ling sub-district. The monastery stood in between the east bank of Khlong Ayodhya
and the west bank of Khlong Maheyong, but orientated to the latter.
The site was located adjacent to Wat Phlai Chumphon (situated on the Ayutthaya
Provincial Juvenile Center) and more or less opposite Wat Bot Racha Decha, which
stood opposite Khlong Ayodhya. The monastery was separated from Wat Phlai
Chumphon by a small canal splitting off from Khlong Ayodhya. Wat Sing Narai was
likely completely surrounded by a moat and was orientated east towards Khlong
Maheyong.
In situ are the remains of a collapsed chedi. East of the chedi we still can distinguish the
remnants of the former ordination hall and brickwork of what was once its inner wall.
The monastery must have been quite large for the time. Bricks, tiles and brickwork are
shattered over a wide area. Some sandstone pieces of broken Buddha images are still in
situ. Remains of what probably was an old pond still can be seen.
Multiple traces of fresh digging on the site were clearly visible.
The temple's historical background and period of construction are not known.
The monastery is indicated on a 1974 and 1993 Fine Arts Department map and situated
in Geo Coord: 14° 22' 0.66" N, 100° 35' 30.93" E.
The story behind: I visited this area earlier and found with the exception of some
scattered old bricks no specific relevant brickwork. Inquiries at that time in the Provincial
Juvenile Center did not result. One day I was searching for information on the internet
and stumbled on Chris Baker's Blog "Khun Chang Khun Phaen". On one of the pages
the author described his hunt for a certain temple and posted pictures of a temple ruin he
found in the vicinity of the Juvenile Center. I contacted Chris and he forwarded me the
coordinates of the site, and indeed it was the area I visited earlier.
Begin February I revisited the place again, knowing there should be brickwork. The first
half hour I found nothing again but scattered bricks. I started to hesitate. Was this the
location? The place was a small jungle with thorny bushes, low vegetation and stinging
red ants. I hit a kind of pond surrounded by very dense scrub. I decided to go deeper. I
crawled under some low branches next to the pond, ripped my camo pants, lost my
Indiana Jones hat and found myself in a "new area". First I saw only a large termite
mound. Going deeper I suddenly observed the contours of a five meter high mound of
collapsed bricks with on top remaining brickwork. Here was Wat Sing Narai. Why
didn't I found it earlier. Simply, I was looking adjacent the old Khlong Ayodhya, but the
remnants were more east, adjacent the old Khlong Maheyong. Thanks Chris! Without
your findings and inputs, I would never have encountered this site.
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| Text, maps & photographs by Tricky Vandenberg - May 2009 Reviewed February 2012 |
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| (The chedi of Wat Sing Narai) |
| (Brickwork of the chedi) |
| (Likely remnants of the inner wall of the ubost) |
| (Fragmented piece of a Buddha image) |
| (Extract of a 1974 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Dr. Surat Lertlum, Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy) |
| (Extract of a 1993 Fine Arts Department map - Courtesy Khun Supot Prommanot, Director of the 3th Regional Office of Fine Arts) |
| Site view of Wat Sing Narai. Pictures were taken on 1 February 2012. (Photographs by Tricky Vandenberg) |
