History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins

WAT KHOK KHAMIN 1 (วัดโคกขมิ่น)

Wat Khok Khamin or the Monastery of the Mound of the Curcuma Plant (1) was
situated on the city island in the central area of Ayutthaya in Pratu Chai Sub-district. The
temple was located near the crossing of Khlong Tho - Khlong Chakrai Yai and Lao
Street. At the crossing stood Saphan Lam Hoei, a brick bridge.

Opposite Khlong Chakrai Yai stood Wat Jan (brick foundations visible), while Wat
Khun Phrom (defunct) was on its south.

The ancient site was cleared in the early 1970's during construction works of an
expansion project of the (former) Ayutthaya Agriculture School (Withayalai
Kasetrakam). There are no traces of foundations or brick work anymore at ground level
and the temple is classified as disappeared. [1]

The site is mentioned on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926. Historical
data about the monastery and its construction is unknown.

Wat Khok Khamin was located in geographical coordinates: 14° 21' 4.09" N, 100° 33'
19.99" E.

Footnotes:

(1) Khamin is the Thai word for curcuma. The latter is a plant, a genus in the ginger plant
family Zingiberaceae having its habitat in the warm, humid environments of south and
southeast Asia. The most commercially important kind is Curcuma Longa, originating
from India, widely cultivated in Asia for its underground stems. The stems are boiled for
several hours and then dried in hot ovens, after which they are ground into a deep orange-
yellow powder commonly used as a spice in curries and other South Asian cuisine. It is
also used for dyeing and to impart color to mustard condiments. The root of turmeric
(Curcuma Longa) has long been used in traditional Asian medicine to treat gastrointestinal
upset, arthritic pain, and "low energy."

References:

[1] Bangkok Post - 09 Dec 1972 - Work suspended on Ayutthaya sites. The article
states that “machinery engaged on the Ayutthaya Agriculture School extensions ploughed
up the ruins of at least five temples in the disputed area”. The work at the school was
stopped after students had sent a petition to the NEC. The Director General of the Fine
Arts Department at that time stated he was certain the damage had already been done.