History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins

WAT LANGKHA KHAO (วัดหลังคาขาว)

This temple ruin is located in an open field within the Ayutthaya Historic al Park. It is
easily seen from the southern side of Naresuan Road.

There is a single bell-shaped chedi in situ at Wat Langkha Khao. It has been renovated
by the Fine Arts Department. The chedi has an octagonal base with several layers leading
to its relic chamber. There are approximately 19 rings on its spire. The finial is missing,
but the harmika is in good shape with a full covering of stucco. There is entrance on the
eastern side of the chedi. The inner chamber is hollow and full of bats. There are no other
structures viewable at this site. Wat Langkha Kao was aligned toward the east/west axis.
Given the similarity in their names, this monastery probably had some connection with
Wat Langkha Dam.

There isn’t much historical information available about this temple. The name refers to the
white tiles that were once on its roof. Wat Langka Khao was situated along a road
beside Khlong Nam Cheawn - a canal that brought fast moving water from Khlong
Mu e ang (the old Lopburi River) to Bu e ng Phra Ram. The water flow of this canal was
regulated by a gate known as Pratu Tasibiay. A portion of the gate’s wall can still be
seen along U-Thong Road. This canal was aligned with a number of temples: Wat Chum
Saeng, Wat Yan Sen, Wat Sangkha Pat, Wat Phong, and Wat Langkha Dam - the latter
temple being separated only by a small moat. This monastery was surrounded by water
at one time, but it was covered with landfill while constructing the Historical Park during
the 1950s-1960s.

Text & photographs by Ken May - August 2009

Addendum

The water flow of Khlong Nam Chiao was not regulated by the gate known as Pratu Tha
Sip Bia (the Gate of the Landing of the Ten Cowries). This gate was a large land gate in
the northern city wall situated near the northeastern corner of the outer wall of Wat
Thammikarat.

Following Phraya Boran Rachathanin (PBR) the Nam Chiao canal entered the city two
entries further to the east at an entrance called Chong Maha Thera Mai Sae. The canal
aligned with Wat Chum Saeng, Wat Langkha Khao, Wat Langkha Dam, Wat Sangkha
Pat, and Wat Phong mentioned above, was called Lam Khu Pak Sra. [1] This author
believes that the local people could have called the latter Khlong Nam Chiao, but this is
in contradiction with PBR's writings.

The "Master Plan for Tourism Development of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and the
Neighbouring Provinces" mentions that there were no remains of this temple. The
document stipulates that there were only three temples left in Bueng Phra Ram in 1988,
all in poor condition, being: Wat Nok, Wat Song Pat (likely Wat Sangkha Pat) and Wat
Langkha Dam. The ruin of Wat Langkha Khao we see today, must have been completely
reconstructed. [2]

References:

[1] Athibai Phaenthi Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya kap khamwinitjai khong Phraya Boran
Racha Thanin - Explanation of the map of the Capital of Ayutthaya with a ruling of
Phraya Boran Rachathanin - Revised 2nd edition and Geography of the Ayutthaya
Kingdom - Ton Chabab print office - Nonthaburi (2007) - page 53.
[2] Master Plan for Tourism Development of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and the
Neighbouring Provinces - Tourism Authority of Thailand - 6 August 1988 - page 4-58.

Updated January 2013, December 2014