History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins

WAT KHOK PHRA NON (วัดโคกพระนอน)

Wat Khok Phra Non or the Monastery of the Mound of the Reclining Buddha is
situated off the city island in the eastern area of Ayutthaya in Phai Ling Sub-district.

The un-excavated ruin lies south of Wat Rerai and Wat Yak; and north of Wat Yai Chai
Mongkhon and north-west of Wat Maklam.

In situ is a very high and large brick mound covered in vegetation with some remaining
broken brickwork. The site has been partly renovated by the Fine Arts Department on
the eastern side after the large flood of 2011. Local people stated that the premises
belong to Wat Yai Chai Mongkol as well as other sites in the vicinity. It is believed that
under the remaining brick mound, there is still a reclining Buddha image buried (hence the
name of the temple).

The site was dismantled to recuperate the bricks for construction purposes at Wat Yai
Chai Mongkol. Also here locals told us that all the temple sites in the vicinity of Wat Yai
were undone of bricks and to be sold to contractors from Bangkok.

There were a number of laterite blocks on top of the mound. After enquiry it was said
that the stones were dug out very deep (likely the foundations) and as no use for the
contractors (apparently only bricks were requested) the stones were thrown back onto
the brick mound.

Wat Khok Phra Non was accessed before by a canal system that was linked to Wat Yai
Chai Mongkhon.

Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.

The monastery is mentioned on a Fine Arts Department (FAD) map drafted in 1993 and
on a FAD GIS map of 2007. The site is situated in geographical coordinates: 14° 21'
2.54" N, 100° 35' 41.80" E.

The 2007 GIS map indicates the site of Wat Maha Thalai next to Wat Khok Phra Non.
The location of Wat Maha Thalai on the map is wrong as the site is situated on the
premises of the Provincial sport complex.