Wat Khanan was a monastery situated off the city island in the eastern area of Ayutthaya, in the Phai Ling Sub-district. The temple was located on the east bank of Khlong Dusit (1) on the same north-south axis as Wat Dusit (ruin), Wat Saphan Rueak (defunct), and Wat Khanun (defunct). Wat Khanan was situated south of Wat Khanun.
The monastery's historical background and period of construction are unknown.
The site is not indicated on a 19th-century map, nor Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926 CE and features only on a FAD 1974 CE map. [1]
The old texts recount that inhabitants from Ang Thong, Lopburi, Inburi, Phromburi, Singburi, Sanburi (2) and Suphanburi brought in paddy by boats and moored in front of Wat Samo, Wat Khanun and Wat Khanan, where they sold their merchandise. The local villagers near these three temples set up rice mills. The milled rice was sold in the city and to the local Chinese liquor distillers at Pak Khao San village. In the season when the junks set sail for China, milled rice was sold as provisions for the junks. [2]
The location of Wat Khanan is situated in a build-up area, and there are likely no traces of the monastery anymore above ground level. The site has not been excavated yet.
Wat Khanan was approximately in geographical coordinates: 14° 20' 54.56" N, 100° 35' 29.51" E.
Footnotes:
(1) Khlong Dusit flows through the Phai Ling Sub-district. Like Khlong Hantra, Khlong Kramang and Khlong Khao San, this canal was likely once a stretch of the Pa Sak River.
(2) At present, Sankha Buri in Chainat province is a historic site located on the old Chao Phraya River, today the Noi River, and dates to the Sukhothai period. Before the Ayutthaya period (1351-1767 CE), the town was known as Phraek Sri Racha (Mueang Phraek) and was built by King Lerthai in 1317 CE. The town was in the 15th century under Ayutthaya, as Chao Yi Phraya, second son of King Intharacha (reign 1409-1424 CE) of the Suphannaphum dynasty, was named ruler of this city by his father. Thus, Mueang San was a Mueang Luk in the early Ayutthaya period. The town was likely already occupied in the Dvaravati Period (6 - 11th Century) and followed by Khmer rule (10-12th century) before becoming a frontier city of Sukhothai. It was an important defensive post in both the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya Kingdoms.
References:
[1] FAD 1974 map - courtesy Dr Surat Lertlum - Program Head of Computer Science Program - Chulachomklao Royal Military Academy.
[2] Pongsripian, Vinai, Dr. (2007). Phanna phumisathan Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya: Ekasan jak Ho Luang. Geographical description of Ayutthaya: Documents from the palace. Bangkok: Usakane. pp. 89-90.
