WAT NANG KHA





Wat Nang Kha, or the Monastery of the Woman named Kha, was situated outside the city island of Ayutthaya in the Hua Ro Sub-district, just opposite Ko Loi and the Ship Building Institute.


Wat Pa Kho stood north, Wat Pradu east, Wat Khian South and Wat Inthawat west opposite the present Pa Sak River.


No visible traces are remaining at ground level. The area is presently a construction site.


The temple is first mentioned on Phraya Boran Ratchathanin’s map drafted in 1926 CE. Phraya Boran (1871-1936 CE) was the Superintendent Commissioner of Monthon Ayutthaya from 1925 to 1929 CE but occupied important functions since 1896 CE in Monthon Ayutthaya.


The monastery's name is disputed as a map of 1957 CE named it Wat Nang Da and later FAD maps (1974 - 1993 CE) Wat Nang Kham. The site is not mentioned on the FAD 2007 CE map.


Late Professor Phayao Khemnak, former Head of Historic Sites at the Fine Arts Department 3rd Region, mentions this temple in his book “Wat Monthop” as Wat Nang Dam.


The temple was located opposite Wat Sri Jampa (Wat Inthawat). A small canal called Khlong Sai (Sand Canal), which became, at the beginning of the 20th century, a new bed for the Pa Sak River, ran between the two monastic sites. [1]


Its historical background and period of construction are unknown.


Wat Nang Kha must have been situated in approximative geographical coordinates: 14° 21' 57.41" N, 100° 34' 54.24" E.


References:


[1] Khemnak, Phayao (2010). Wat Monthop (Amphur Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya). Fine Arts Department 3rd Region.