Wat Photharam (1), or the Monastery of the Bodhi Tree, was located outside Ayutthaya's city island in the eastern area, in the Phai Ling Sub-district, east of the Pa Sak River today.
There are no visible traces of this monastery remaining at ground level.
Its period of construction is unknown.
This monastery is mentioned in the Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya as the site where the King of Prae and the left wing of the army of Hongsawadi set up its enclosure during the investment of Ayutthaya in 1549 CE. The Mon armies were set up in a circle around the capital. In only one day, they finished making a network of bridges of bamboo slats sewn with rattan across all the rivers, streams and canals so that the troops and horses could walk anywhere.
"The King of Hongsawadi, having spoken, marched his army down to Ayutthaya on the following day, on Wednesday, the tenth day of the waning moon of the second month, 911, a year of the cock, first of the decade. The army of the Uparat, the vanguard, set up its stockade in Phaniat Township. The stockade of the King of Præ, the left wing, was set up at Thung Wat Photharam Township to Kò Kæo Canal. The army of the King of Ava, the right wing, set up its stockade at Wat Phutthaisawan Township to Takhian Canal. The army of the Phraya of Tòngu, the army of the Phraya of Cittòng and the army of the Phraya of Lakhoeng, the commissariat, set up their stockade from Ka Ròng Monastery down to Chai Watthanaram Monastery. The army of the Phraya of Bassein and the army of the Phraya of Sariang, the vanguard of the main army, set up their stockade at Lumphli Township. The main army set up its stockade at Wat Pho Phüak Township, on the Pakkhu tax station rice fields. And the army of Prince Maha Thammaracha set up its stockade in Makham Yòng Township behind the royal stockade. The armies, which were set up in a circle around the Capital, in only one day finished making a network of bridges of bamboo slats sewn with rattan across all the rivers, streams and canals so the troops and horses could walk anywhere." [1]
