WAT LANTHOM NOI





Wat Lanthom Noi or the small Monastery of the Frangipani Tree" (1) was located on Ayutthaya’s city island in the city’s western area of the Pratu Chai Sub-district. The monastery was situated on the north bank of Khlong Tha Phra (2).

Wat Lanthom Noi stood between Wat Jom Thong and Wat Jan.

The site is only indicated on a 19th-century map drafted by an unknown surveyor. It does not feature on Phraya Boran Rachathanin's (PBR) map drawn in 1926 CE, which shows only an empty space.

There are no traces anymore visible of the monastery above ground level.

I think it would be unjust to conclude that there were only monasteries situated at the origin and near the mouth of Khlong Tha Phra and nothing in between them. There were monastic structures along this canal, as indicated by the 19th-century map. I presume this area was already cleared of temple ruins before Phraya Boran Rachathanin arrived in Ayutthaya.

Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.

Wat Lanthom Noi was approximately located in geographical coordinates: 14° 20' 49.97" N, 100° 33' 4.22" E.

Footnotes:

(1) Frangipani, Nosegay or Pagoda Tree. Scientific name: Plumeria Rubra. The word ‘lanthom’ has a sound resembling the word ‘rathom’, which means agony. Hence the taboo of planting it in gardens. It is usually found in a monastery where, according to a superstitious belief, any unlucky or ill thing will lose its bad effects. [1]
(2) Khlong Tha Phra, also known as Khlong Klaep, is a defunct canal situated on Ayutthaya's city island. Some stretches of this old canal still can be seen today on the western side. The canal had its mouth at the old Lopburi River today renamed the Chao Phraya River. Here stood one of the eleven water gates around the island called Pratu Khlong Tha Phra. The canal ended at the confluence with Khlong Chakrai Yai. Beyond this confluence, it continued in an eastern direction as Khlong Pa Mo and joined the Pratu Thep Mi Canal. There is evidence that this canal continued eastwards in a straight line to join Khlong Makham Riang.

References:

[1] Rajadhon, Anuman (Phya) (1961). Some Siamese Superstitions about trees and plants. Journal of the Siam Society. Vol 49.1. p. 58.