AYUTTHAYA HISTORICAL RESEARCH



KHAM YAT ROYAL RESIDENCE





Phra Tamnak Kham Yat is located in Kam Yat Sub-district of Pho Thong in Ang Thong province. The royal pavilion was likely built during the reign of King Borommakot (1733-1758 CE) for use while renovating and visiting the sacred sites of Phra Non Khun In Phramun and Phra Non Chak Sri. While the exact year of its construction remains unknown, historical documents indicate that the king frequently visited the Ang Thong area and utilised the Kham Yat Royal Residence as a temporary royal lodging.

The Kham Yat Royal Residence is a two-storey brick-and-mortar building facing east, measuring about 10 metres wide and 19 metres long. The building is elevated above the ground the ground floor features a series of pointed-arched bays, while the upper floor incorporates charanam-style (niche-like) window arches. The building's structure uses round columns and load-bearing walls. The interior comprises three main rooms, with additional recessed porticos at the front and rear, for a total of five sections. The interior is painted red. The building also has projecting porticos at both the front and back. The charanam arches—found above the window openings on the ground floor and the interior windows—are pointed and curved and likely intended to hold lamps for illumination.

The design resembles several other historical sites, including the Tamnak Kamalian at Wat Kudi Dao, the Ho Trai (scripture repository) at Wat Thammaram, and the Tamnak of Somdet Phra Phutthakhosachan at Wat Phutthaisawan in Ayutthaya. Today, only four walls of the throne hall remain, but they still bear traces of its architectural glory.




(View of Tamnak Kham Yat - September 2014 CE)



On the southeast side of the pavilion stood a monastic hall (vihara). It is a brick-and-mortar building with a high base and a surrounding outer wall.


The temple is mentioned in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya. After the war with the Burmese in 1760 CE, the ex-King Uthumphon (reign 1758 CE), also known as Khun Luang Ha Wat, sought safety here from the malpractices of his elder brother, King Suriyamarin (reign 1758-1767 CE), who could not cope well with Ayutthaya’s successful defence and the popularity of his younger brother. Prince Uthumphon left the Front Palace by royal barge and went to the Kham Yat Royal Residence before ordaining at the nearby Wat Pho Thong. After his ordination, he went to stay at Wat Pradu, as before the war.


“One day later on, during the middle of the night, the King issued a holy royal proclamation to have the Holy Younger Brother of the King summoned in for an audience in a place in the Interior [of the Palace Enclosure]. When His Majesty went in He gazed with His holy eyes and saw His Holy Lord and Older Sibling unsheathe a holy sword weapon and lay it across His holy lap. He accordingly understood in His holy heart that the King was displeased, would do Him harm, and would not let Him remain among the laity. His Majesty thereupon came back out to His place to the Front [of the Palace Enclosure]. When the waxing half of the eighth month arrived, His Majesty thereupon boarded a holy throne barge and went out to the Monastery of the Fig of the Pure Gold Spray. After entering the holy monkhood, His Majesty came back in to live at the Monastery of the Pradu Tree just as before.” [1]


Prince Damrong cited the events in the paragraph above in his book “Our Wars with the Burmese”.


“Those government servants who did not agree with Somdet Phrachao Uthumphon sought for power as formerly. They incited Somdet Phrachao Ekathat to hate, doubt, and be jealous of Somdet Phrachao Uthumphon. The royal history states that, on one occasion, Somdet Phrachao Ekathat invited Somdet Phrachao Uthumphon to see him at night. When the latter arrived, he saw Somdet Phrachao Ekathat draw his sword from the scabbard and place it on his lap. Somdet Phrachao Uthumphon believed that, because his brother was at enmity with him, if he persisted in staying at the capital, there might be fighting between them. So he went away from his palace and stayed at a temporary palace in the village of Kham Yat in the district of Muang Wiset Chaichan. When he had made preparations and was ready to go, he entered the priesthood at the Pho Thong monastery which was near his temporary palace, and came and stayed at the Pradu Rongtham monastery as formerly. At that time, most of the government servants who belonged to the party of Somdet Phrachao Uthumphon entered the priesthood along with His Majesty.” [2]





(The monastic hall on the southeast side of the royal pavilion - September 2014 CE)



Furthermore, King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) mentions the Tamnak Kham Yat in the royal commentary (Phra Ratchawichan). In a royal letter written during his 1908 CE journey along the Makham Thao waterway (2), the King described the structure as follows:

“The Tamnak (residence) is similar in style to the Tamnak at Thung Han Tra: it is a masonry building raised five sok (cubits) above the ground. The ground-floor walls are punctuated by arched bays, and the floor is made of wooden planks. On the upper level, the window frames are designed as charanam (recessed arched niches). The main roof covers three bays, with lower-eaved sections (muk lot) at the front and rear, totaling five bays in length. There are projecting porches (muk det) at both the front and the rear. Beside the front porch, there are staircases (atthanchan). The rear porch is enclosed by solid walls, with windows positioned high up—likely indicating that the floor was raised to serve as a ho phra (shrine room). The walls on the sides—the hum klong (gable-end walls)—are also pierced with arched bays. There are kho song (frieze-like horizontal bands) featuring recessed panels, all of which are painted with red ochre—a style characteristic of the Lop Buri period. The structure measures 9 wa and 2 sok in length, with a span (width) of 5 wa. There are signs of later alterations, specifically the sealing of windows on both sides of the recessed rear portico. The ground level here remains low, leaving the area prone to flooding and dampness. The building faces east, with its rear toward the west. To the south, on a separate mound, stands a small wihan (sanctuary) or ho phra (shrine). Nearby, there is also a small, ruined chedi—its original form no longer discernible—but beyond these, nothing else remains…” [3]

After the Burmese captured Ayutthaya in 1767 CE, the Kham Yat Royal Residence fell into disuse. It remained in this state until the Rattanakosin period, when King Chulalongkorn (Rama V) ordered its restoration however, it subsequently fell into disuse once again.

The Kham Yat Royal Residence is a registered ancient monument—a status announced in the Royal Gazette (Volume 52, Section 75) on 8 March 1935. The site covers 30 rai and 82 square wa. [4]

In 2012 CE, the 3rd Fine Arts Office (Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya) restored the Kham Yat Royal Residence to preserve its historical and artistic significance, ensuring that the original construction techniques and methods are maintained as evidence for future study and learning. [5]





(Old picture of the Royal Residence Kham Yat – ca. 1908 CE)



Footnotes:


(1) King Vajiravudh (Rama VI) spent his summer vacation in this temple during his boat trips visiting the Chao Phraya Noi and Yai Rivers in Monthon Krungkao in 1916 CE.

(2) King Chulalongkorn visited Kam Yat Palace on 26 October 1908 CE.


References:


[1] Cushman, Richard D. & Wyatt, David K. (2006). The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya. Bangkok: The Siam Society. p. 487.

[2] Rajanubhap, Damrong (Prince) (1917). Our Wars with the Burmese. White Lotus, Bangkok (2000).

[3] Royal Correspondence. An Account of the Royal Journey along the Makham Thao River, 1961. p. 43.

[4] Information board in situ.

[5] 3rd Fine Arts Office (Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya), Archaeological Report on the Kham Yat Royal Residence, Tambon Kham Yat, Amphoe Pho Thong, Ang Thong Province, 2007.



Selected PICTURES



Pictures taken September 2014 CE



When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.
(Alexis de Tocqueville)





HISTORY OF AYUTTHAYA



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