Wat Khrut, or the Monastery of the Garuda, was situated off the city island in the northern area of Ayutthaya in the Tha Wasukri Sub-district. The temple was north of Wat Choeng Tha and the Dock of the Royal barges in a locality called Thung Khwan (1).
In situ is a brick mound covered with vegetation.
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.
The temple was named after the sacred animal and mount of Vishnu, the Garuda (2).
Like most ancient temples in and around Ayutthaya, the site has been a victim of treasure farming in earlier years.
The monastery is only indicated on a 1993 CE Fine Arts Department (FAD) map.
The temple's ruins are in geographical coordinates: 14° 21' 51.22" N, 100° 33' 15.26" E.
There is also an active temple called before Wat Khrut, but named at present Wat Khruttharam in the Khlong Sra Bua Sub-district, in a locality called Thung Kaeo (3).
Footnotes:
(1) Thung Khwan, or "Field of Fumes", is an area north of the city of Ayutthaya bordered on the north by Thung Lum Phli, on the east by Khlong Sra Bua and Thung Kaeo, in the south by the old Lopburi River and in the west by Thung Phukhao Thong. This area was likely related to crematory services.
(2) Suparna and Garuda (Th: Suban and Khrut) are Sanskrit terms denoting a race or races of enormous, monstrous birds whose chief occupation seems to be watching for and pouncing on the weaker Naga serpents. The Garudas can only conquer the weaker members of the family as their power is not equal to that of the superior Nagas. The bird Garuda is the bearer of Vishnu, who is commonly represented in pictures as being borne along by that bird. Phya Khrut is the great enemy of the Nagas but not otherwise evil-disposed.[1]
(3) Thung Kaeo, or Crystal Field, is an area north of the city of Ayutthaya bordered on the west and north by Khlong Sra Bua, on the east by Khlong Hua Ro, and on the south by Khlong Mueang.
