History
The Royal Chronicles of Ayutthaya mentions at least twice the Hantra Monastery or the Hantra village. The Royal Autograph version teaches us that King Borommakot left the Royal Palace in a Royal Barge procession to dedicate this monastery in the month of June 1738 CE. A celebration festival was held for three days in which alms were offered to the monks. On the third day of the celebrations, elephant tusk fights were held but interrupted by a heavy rainstorm.
"Reaching 1100 of the Royal Era, the year of the horse, tenth of the decade, during the sixth month, His Majesty the Supreme Holy Lord of the Realm went in holy royal procession with a formation of military barges to dedicate the Monastery of the Division of the Seal, had a festival to celebrate the holy temple held for three days, and offered appropriate alms articles to the holy monks and clerics in great numbers. On that day which was the last [of the festival, the King] had elephants brought out to tusk fight with each other and a great storm developed, rain falling heavily. After the affair was completed, His Majesty returned and entered the Holy Metropolis." [1]
"Now, in the sixth month of the year of the horse [1738], tenth of the decade, the Monastery of the Deterioration of the Seal was dedicated." [2]
It was also near Ban Hantra that Phraya Tak - the later King Taksin (reign 1767-1782 CE) - broke through the Burmese encirclement end of 1766 CE, in his escape to the south, after having encamped at Wat Phichai.
"As soon as it began to rain hard, forming an auspicious moment propitious for victory, the Phraya of Kamphæng Phet accordingly led the brigades of his army forth from the stockade at the Monastery of Victory and marched his army along toward the Village of the Division of the Seal. Just as it was getting dark, meanwhile, the brigades of a Burmese army, having learned [about his flight], managed to advance in pursuit and catch up with him, and they faced and fought each other in capable fashion. The Burmese army, being unable to withstand [his army], retreated and went back." [3]
An unfolded segment of a carved wooden door belonging to a monastic building of Wat Hantra featuring a warrior riding a Kylin (4) is displayed at the Chao Sam Phraya Museum [4].
Four old Chinese bells with dragon and fish designs, inclusive of Chinese inscriptions, were found on the premises of the monastery. The bells arrived probably with junks from China and are evidence of a thriving business between China and Siam. The bells can be admired at the Chan Kasem Museum in Ayutthaya.
Wat Hantra is in geographical coordinates: 14° 21' 47.09" N, 100° 36' 15.94" E.