| WAT SUWANDAWAT |
Wat Suwandawat is located on the city island. It can be found in the corner Chikun
Road and U-Thong Road, just before the Khlong Muang Bridge. This renovated temple
ruin can also be seen directly opposite Wat Rachapraditstan.
Wat Suwandawat was aligned to an east/west axis facing toward Khlong Pratu Khao
Pluak (now buried underground). In situ is a small sermon hall with its front entrance wall
still intact. Its basic foundation has been reconstructed by the Fine Arts Department, but
the remaining three walls are missing. The altar of the sermon hall has a large, armless,
Buddha image with most of his face still visible. Behind this ubosot is a large bell-shaped
chedi with an octagonal base. There are at least 25 rings around the spire and it finial is
still present. There are similar bell-shaped chedi at both sides of the sermon hall’s
entrance. These also have an octagonal base, though one’s spire has collapsed to the
ground below. These two chedi also have arched entrances on the eastern side.
Several smaller bell-shaped chedi in various states of erosion are also in situ. Two of
these sit in alignment on small platforms near U-Thong Road, and a third in line has
eroded to the ground level. More bell-shaped chedi can be found toward the
southwestern side of the sermon hall. In addition, there is a two-tiered bell tower with
arched windows in each of the cardinal directions. The style of this architecture at Wat
Suwandawat suggests the middle and late Ayutthaya period.
There is no record of this temple’s construction date or its role in history. It was built
where some Royal elephant stables once stood. These elephant quarters appear on the
maps of Vingboons 1665, Coronelli 1696, and La Loubere 1691. This monastery may
have been used by the mahouts that worked with elephants in the stables.
Wat Suwandawat was restored by King Mongkut (r. 1851-1868) during the
Ratanakosin period. Excavations at this site uncovered a Chinese-style image of Buddha
preaching. It dates to the Ming Dynasty (16th-17th). The Chao Sam Phraya Museum
presently has this marble image on display.
Road and U-Thong Road, just before the Khlong Muang Bridge. This renovated temple
ruin can also be seen directly opposite Wat Rachapraditstan.
Wat Suwandawat was aligned to an east/west axis facing toward Khlong Pratu Khao
Pluak (now buried underground). In situ is a small sermon hall with its front entrance wall
still intact. Its basic foundation has been reconstructed by the Fine Arts Department, but
the remaining three walls are missing. The altar of the sermon hall has a large, armless,
Buddha image with most of his face still visible. Behind this ubosot is a large bell-shaped
chedi with an octagonal base. There are at least 25 rings around the spire and it finial is
still present. There are similar bell-shaped chedi at both sides of the sermon hall’s
entrance. These also have an octagonal base, though one’s spire has collapsed to the
ground below. These two chedi also have arched entrances on the eastern side.
Several smaller bell-shaped chedi in various states of erosion are also in situ. Two of
these sit in alignment on small platforms near U-Thong Road, and a third in line has
eroded to the ground level. More bell-shaped chedi can be found toward the
southwestern side of the sermon hall. In addition, there is a two-tiered bell tower with
arched windows in each of the cardinal directions. The style of this architecture at Wat
Suwandawat suggests the middle and late Ayutthaya period.
There is no record of this temple’s construction date or its role in history. It was built
where some Royal elephant stables once stood. These elephant quarters appear on the
maps of Vingboons 1665, Coronelli 1696, and La Loubere 1691. This monastery may
have been used by the mahouts that worked with elephants in the stables.
Wat Suwandawat was restored by King Mongkut (r. 1851-1868) during the
Ratanakosin period. Excavations at this site uncovered a Chinese-style image of Buddha
preaching. It dates to the Ming Dynasty (16th-17th). The Chao Sam Phraya Museum
presently has this marble image on display.
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| Text & photographs by Ken May - September 2009 |
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