Unscheduled....... On Tuesday the 17th I once again turned up at Lak Si Immigration Office to get my stay in Thailand extended for another 30 days, opening the door for more travels around Thailand, this time uninterrupted. However, I had nothing planned before the weekend that is until this morning. Katoon needs to take the car out for an oil change and take it for a test. With this not expected to take long, we explore the possibility of turning this into a day trip. I do have something in mind but there needs to be more before I can devote a whole page to the day's events. Well before lunch we head north towards Ayutthaya.
We arrive near Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon for an early lunch opening the rest of the day to do what? Well of course to visit the railway station but I've also recorded another a couple of other attractions while we're in the area.
Ayutthaya Floating Market....... Katoon thinks there will be little to see at Ayutthaya Floating Market until a weekend but when we arrive it's quite busy. This is an excellent place to come with your friends! The boat ride is great and there is a good selection of food, local produce and souvenirs! Of course, there are no sellers from klong boats as you would expect at Damnoen Saduak or Ampawa but instead there are elephant rides which take you past some iconic ruins in the ancient city which you would not experience if you stayed only on Ayutthaya City Island. It would be possible then to fit this attraction in together with a visit there. I must admit there is more here than I expected, and I could spend a good hour here, elephant rides excluded. Before we leave, I note that in the distance is an ancient chedi on land that has not been maintained in contrast to most of the monuments on the Island. The Floating Market is one of two attractions on my list to the east of Ayutthaya City Island and already a new page on my website is springing up. A second attraction in this area is not far away as we head north. However, almost immediately we get distracted.
Wat Maheyong....... Less than a kilometer from floating market is Wat Maheyong. This monastery located to the east of the Ayutthya City Island is surrounded by a wall. It consists of a bell shape principal stupa on a squared foundation decorated with elephant sculptures influenced from Sri Lanka. In front of the stupa is a large ubosot (ordination hall) which was assumed to have been rebuilt when the monastery was restored in the reign of King Tai Sra. There is a two-story building outside the wall called Tamnak Maheyong.
The Royal Chronicles of Ayuttaya mentioned that this monastery was built by the Royal Order of Somdej Phra Borom Rajathitaj II in 1438 A.D., When King Bayinnuang of Hongsawadi, Burma, movied his troops to Ayutthaya. He used the Maheyong Temple as the primary command post for his troops.
In 1709 A.D. King Tai Sra ordered the renovation of the entire monastery, which took three years to complete.
According to the name and the stupa's profile it is probably based on the Holy Monastery of Mahiyanggana in Sri Lanka.
Entry to this temple of foreigners is 50 baht.
Wat Chang....... From the location of Wat Maheyong looking to the right is Wat Chang. This is the temple I viewed at the floating market, now identified. As with other ruins, there are no documents left, so we don't know the details such as the historical background and the exact time when this temple was built.
According to one legend, it was built by the 9th Ayutthaya Dynasty, King Boromatrai Lokanath who was the son of the 8th Ayutthaya Dynasty 'King Samphraya' who built Wat Rachaburana. From an archaeological point of view, it is believed to have been built in the early days of the Ayutthaya dynasty due to features such as the bell-shaped main pagoda that resembles the Sukhothai style.
History Lesson....... At this point my visit is turning out to be a history lesson into classical Ayutthaya which complements what I have already discovered from previous visits. This is my third visit so far and unlikely to be the last such was the vast area covered by this amazing ancient city. What is curious to me is giving its size how the Burmese managed to sack the city in 1767. Were the late Ayutthayan kings so intent on building temples that they neglected to create adequate defenses which I note are lacking. It seems that they relied entirely on the City Island which although easy to defend, left itself open to a siege. My journey around the outer monument to the east of the City Island continues.
Wat Sika Samud....... Wat Sika Samud is located outside the City Island and faces east. The monastery looks like an island surrounded by a ditch. A ditch was used in place of the usual sema stone boundary markers called U-tok Sema. U-tok is the Pali name for water indicating its Sri Lankan origins. The plan of this temple consists of an ubosot (ordination hall) with the principal stupa to its west.
There is no evidence of the temple's historical background or period of construction. However, according to the archeological evidence this temple was first built in the early Ayutthaya period. Later it was abandoned after the invasion by the Burmese Army in 1767 A.D. Entry is Free.
Wat Kudi Dao....... We now head for the location which I first identified in this area for a visit. Wat Kudi Dao is located to the east of Ayutthaya City Island and build facing east. The principal stupa is bell-shaped with the ubosot (ordination hall) at its front. West of the stupa is the viharn (Buddha image hall). The monastry is surrounded by a wall. North of the stupa outside the wall is a two-story building called Tumnak Kummalean.
There is no evidence of its historical background or period of construction. According to the Chronicle of Ayutthaya, this monastery was renovated almost entirely in the reign of King Tai Sra by King Boromakos when he was the deputy king in 1711 A.D.
According to the archeological evidence this temple was first built in the early Ayutthaya period, but it was abandoned after the evasion of the Burmese Army in 1767 A.D. Entry is Free.
Wat Chakkrawad....... Opposite is another old temple albeit more modest. Wat Chakkrawad or Wat Chao Mon is located to the east outside of the Ayutthaya City Island but within the old community which is believed to have prospered before the Ayutthaya period, more than 600 years ago.
The layout of the temple is east to west. To the east of principal bell-shaped stupa is a huge ubosot (ordination hall) surrounded by a wall and ditch. All buildings have been restored several times. There is no evidence of the temple's historical background or period of construction. According to the archeological evidence this temple was built in the early Ayutthaya period and remained in use until the fall of the city.
As mentioned I had no idea, I'd be exploring ancient ruins today and really appreciate that I have the opportunity. Now finally we head off to see some trains.
Ayutthaya Railway Station....... Ayutthaya Railway Station featured on my tour to Phichit and Sukhothai last month. I arrive at this station in time to record a train heading north but noting it will be while before the next service, I won't stay long.
Ban Pachi Junction Railway Station........ Ban Pachi Junction is half an hour from Ayutthaya and will take me further away from Bangkok. It's the first location I thought of when deciding to make this trip. The reason for coming here is the importance of this railway junction. It's here that Northern and Northeastern lines split from the main line running north from Bangkok so it's always busy. I had hoped to see some locomotives stationery at the station but there aren't any. However, the departure board confirms a steady flow of traffic through this station in the next hour or so. It's not normal for me to wait more than 30 minutes for a train to arrive but I need not worry. From 3:00pm 5 trains pass through the junction until at 4:30 there is some respite. This gives us a chance to have a look around the train market opposite the station. My visit has been most useful, and we start our return journey to Bangkok after which Katoon locates another attraction on the way.
Wihan Luang Pho Samret Saksith (Temple of the Holy Father)....... Wihan Luang Pho Samret Saksith in Nong Khae district, Saraburi province is built beside the Raphiphat Canal in Thai/Chinese style. The revered Buddha image is an old image important enough to be enshrined in a glass mondrop inside the temple. The image is credited for bringing success. It is only open until 4.30pm. From the temple there is a good view of the Raphiphat Watergate which controls water levels in the Raphiphat Canal.
With this last site visit we have managed to put in a full day which has covered two of my most important interests in Thailand. A 3rd will have to wait till tomorrow. Thankfully rain that has threatened much of the day has not interfered with our travels today. We arrive back in Bangkok in 7:00pm after securing some takeaway food. Tomorrow will be a relatively quiet the day, but we have plans to go to a football game later.
We arrive near Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon for an early lunch opening the rest of the day to do what? Well of course to visit the railway station but I've also recorded another a couple of other attractions while we're in the area.
Ayutthaya Floating Market....... Katoon thinks there will be little to see at Ayutthaya Floating Market until a weekend but when we arrive it's quite busy. This is an excellent place to come with your friends! The boat ride is great and there is a good selection of food, local produce and souvenirs! Of course, there are no sellers from klong boats as you would expect at Damnoen Saduak or Ampawa but instead there are elephant rides which take you past some iconic ruins in the ancient city which you would not experience if you stayed only on Ayutthaya City Island. It would be possible then to fit this attraction in together with a visit there. I must admit there is more here than I expected, and I could spend a good hour here, elephant rides excluded. Before we leave, I note that in the distance is an ancient chedi on land that has not been maintained in contrast to most of the monuments on the Island. The Floating Market is one of two attractions on my list to the east of Ayutthaya City Island and already a new page on my website is springing up. A second attraction in this area is not far away as we head north. However, almost immediately we get distracted.
Wat Maheyong....... Less than a kilometer from floating market is Wat Maheyong. This monastery located to the east of the Ayutthya City Island is surrounded by a wall. It consists of a bell shape principal stupa on a squared foundation decorated with elephant sculptures influenced from Sri Lanka. In front of the stupa is a large ubosot (ordination hall) which was assumed to have been rebuilt when the monastery was restored in the reign of King Tai Sra. There is a two-story building outside the wall called Tamnak Maheyong.
The Royal Chronicles of Ayuttaya mentioned that this monastery was built by the Royal Order of Somdej Phra Borom Rajathitaj II in 1438 A.D., When King Bayinnuang of Hongsawadi, Burma, movied his troops to Ayutthaya. He used the Maheyong Temple as the primary command post for his troops.
In 1709 A.D. King Tai Sra ordered the renovation of the entire monastery, which took three years to complete.
According to the name and the stupa's profile it is probably based on the Holy Monastery of Mahiyanggana in Sri Lanka.
Entry to this temple of foreigners is 50 baht.
Wat Chang....... From the location of Wat Maheyong looking to the right is Wat Chang. This is the temple I viewed at the floating market, now identified. As with other ruins, there are no documents left, so we don't know the details such as the historical background and the exact time when this temple was built.
According to one legend, it was built by the 9th Ayutthaya Dynasty, King Boromatrai Lokanath who was the son of the 8th Ayutthaya Dynasty 'King Samphraya' who built Wat Rachaburana. From an archaeological point of view, it is believed to have been built in the early days of the Ayutthaya dynasty due to features such as the bell-shaped main pagoda that resembles the Sukhothai style.
History Lesson....... At this point my visit is turning out to be a history lesson into classical Ayutthaya which complements what I have already discovered from previous visits. This is my third visit so far and unlikely to be the last such was the vast area covered by this amazing ancient city. What is curious to me is giving its size how the Burmese managed to sack the city in 1767. Were the late Ayutthayan kings so intent on building temples that they neglected to create adequate defenses which I note are lacking. It seems that they relied entirely on the City Island which although easy to defend, left itself open to a siege. My journey around the outer monument to the east of the City Island continues.
Wat Sika Samud....... Wat Sika Samud is located outside the City Island and faces east. The monastery looks like an island surrounded by a ditch. A ditch was used in place of the usual sema stone boundary markers called U-tok Sema. U-tok is the Pali name for water indicating its Sri Lankan origins. The plan of this temple consists of an ubosot (ordination hall) with the principal stupa to its west.
There is no evidence of the temple's historical background or period of construction. However, according to the archeological evidence this temple was first built in the early Ayutthaya period. Later it was abandoned after the invasion by the Burmese Army in 1767 A.D. Entry is Free.
Wat Kudi Dao....... We now head for the location which I first identified in this area for a visit. Wat Kudi Dao is located to the east of Ayutthaya City Island and build facing east. The principal stupa is bell-shaped with the ubosot (ordination hall) at its front. West of the stupa is the viharn (Buddha image hall). The monastry is surrounded by a wall. North of the stupa outside the wall is a two-story building called Tumnak Kummalean.
There is no evidence of its historical background or period of construction. According to the Chronicle of Ayutthaya, this monastery was renovated almost entirely in the reign of King Tai Sra by King Boromakos when he was the deputy king in 1711 A.D.
According to the archeological evidence this temple was first built in the early Ayutthaya period, but it was abandoned after the evasion of the Burmese Army in 1767 A.D. Entry is Free.
Wat Chakkrawad....... Opposite is another old temple albeit more modest. Wat Chakkrawad or Wat Chao Mon is located to the east outside of the Ayutthaya City Island but within the old community which is believed to have prospered before the Ayutthaya period, more than 600 years ago.
The layout of the temple is east to west. To the east of principal bell-shaped stupa is a huge ubosot (ordination hall) surrounded by a wall and ditch. All buildings have been restored several times. There is no evidence of the temple's historical background or period of construction. According to the archeological evidence this temple was built in the early Ayutthaya period and remained in use until the fall of the city.
As mentioned I had no idea, I'd be exploring ancient ruins today and really appreciate that I have the opportunity. Now finally we head off to see some trains.
Ayutthaya Railway Station....... Ayutthaya Railway Station featured on my tour to Phichit and Sukhothai last month. I arrive at this station in time to record a train heading north but noting it will be while before the next service, I won't stay long.
Ban Pachi Junction Railway Station........ Ban Pachi Junction is half an hour from Ayutthaya and will take me further away from Bangkok. It's the first location I thought of when deciding to make this trip. The reason for coming here is the importance of this railway junction. It's here that Northern and Northeastern lines split from the main line running north from Bangkok so it's always busy. I had hoped to see some locomotives stationery at the station but there aren't any. However, the departure board confirms a steady flow of traffic through this station in the next hour or so. It's not normal for me to wait more than 30 minutes for a train to arrive but I need not worry. From 3:00pm 5 trains pass through the junction until at 4:30 there is some respite. This gives us a chance to have a look around the train market opposite the station. My visit has been most useful, and we start our return journey to Bangkok after which Katoon locates another attraction on the way.
Wihan Luang Pho Samret Saksith (Temple of the Holy Father)....... Wihan Luang Pho Samret Saksith in Nong Khae district, Saraburi province is built beside the Raphiphat Canal in Thai/Chinese style. The revered Buddha image is an old image important enough to be enshrined in a glass mondrop inside the temple. The image is credited for bringing success. It is only open until 4.30pm. From the temple there is a good view of the Raphiphat Watergate which controls water levels in the Raphiphat Canal.
With this last site visit we have managed to put in a full day which has covered two of my most important interests in Thailand. A 3rd will have to wait till tomorrow. Thankfully rain that has threatened much of the day has not interfered with our travels today. We arrive back in Bangkok in 7:00pm after securing some takeaway food. Tomorrow will be a relatively quiet the day, but we have plans to go to a football game later.
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya Floating Market, Phai Ling,
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District
Ayutthaya Elephant Riding, Han Tra,
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District
Wat Chang, Han Tra,
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District
Wat Maheyong, Han Tra,
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District
Wat Sika Samud, Han Tra,
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District
Wat Kudi Dao, Han Tra,
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District
Wat Chakkrawad,
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya District
Ban Pachi Junction Railway Station,
Phachi, Phachi District
Saraburi
Wihan Luang Pho Samret Saksith, Khotchasit, Nong Khae District
Raphiphat Watergate, Khotchasit,
Nong Khae District