WAT CHUMPHON 1





Wat Chumphon, or the Monastery of the Concentration of Troops, is still used by the Buddhist clergy. The monastery is off the city island in the north-western area, in Wat Tum Sub-district, east of road No 309. Wat Chumphon was located in an oxbow of the old Lopburi River, the same as Wat Tum and Wat Chang Yai.


In situ are the ruins of a chedi and old ubosot (ordination hall) within a modern temple complex.


Historical data about the monastery and its construction is unknown. Still, the monastery's name let presume that once this was a place to gather troops before going into battle.


In the temple lies under a tin roof, a skull of an elephant, found at the location, probably a witness of earlier war preparations in this area.


At least three other monasteries off Ayutthaya's city island are called "Chumphon". One site is situated in the north in Suan Phrik Sub-district (Wat Chumphon 2), a second one in the south-east in Khlong Suan Phlu Sub-district (Wat Chumphon 3) and a third one in the south in Pak Kran Sub-district (Wat Chumphon 4).


Wat Chumphon is in geographical coordinates: 14° 23' 48.61" N, 100° 32' 0.17" E.





(A monastic structure at Wat Chumphon - Picture taken May 2009 CE)