History of Ayutthaya - Temples & Ruins

WAT PHO PHUEAK 2 (วัดโผเผือก)

Wat Pho Phueak or the Monastery of the White Bodhi Tree is located on the city
island in the southwest area of Ayutthaya in Pratu Chai Sub-district, west of the Somdet
Phra Sri Nakharin Park. This area is still part of Ayutthaya's Historical Park.

In situ is a ruin covered in vegetation. Several foundations of walls and chedis are still
visible. On the site there is an abandoned construction from recent times.

Its historical background and period of construction are unknown.

The monastery is mentioned on a mid-19th century map but here denominated Wat
Chayaram (วัดไชยาราม). It is positioned in between Khlang (Wat) Wang Chai and
Wat Raeng. Wat Pho Phueak is indicated in an identical position on Phraya Boran
Rachathanin's map drafted in 1926.

Near Wat Chayaram was one of the former four western ferries across the old Lopburi
River - at present the Chao Phraya River (1) - linking the monastery with Ban
Chi (Village of the Nuns) situated between Wat Chai Wathanaram and Wat Sanam Chai
(2) [1]

Footnotes:

(1) The Chao Phraya River has been deviated into the river bed of the old Lopburi River
in the post-Ayutthayan era anno 1857. See the essay: Ayutthaya's ever-changing
waterways.
(2) In Ayutthayan times there were twenty-two ferry routes between the main land and
the city island. In the western area, the three other crossings were: the crossing from the
Rear Palace to Wat Lot Chong, from Tha Dan Lom to Wat Kasatra and from Ban Chao
Phraya Phonlathep’s to Wat Thamma. [1] See "The Boat & Ferry Landings of
Ayutthaya".

Wat Pho Phueak was located in Geo. Coord.: 14° 20' 32.86" N, 100° 32' 51.99" E.

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 92.