Wat Pa Jak, or the Monastery of the Nipa Palm Quarter (1), is a defunct temple located off the city island in the southern area of Ayutthaya, in Samphao Lom Sub-district near Bang Kraja. The monastery was situated along the Chao Phraya River between Wat Khun Phrom and Wat Nang Kui.
Historical data about the monastery and its construction are unknown.
The temple is mentioned in the Testimony of Khun Luang Wat Pradu Songtham. The text mentions a boat ferry existed between Tha Hoi (Shell landing) and Wat Pa Jak. [1]
The temple is not mentioned on Phraya Boran Ratchathanin's map drafted in 1926 CE but features on a 19th-century map.
Wat Pa Jak must have been located in the approximative geographical coordinates: 14° 20' 49.19" N, 100° 34' 19.54" E.
Footnotes:
(1) Nypa fruticans, commonly known as the nipa palm or mangrove palm, is a species of palm native to the coastlines and estuarine habitats of the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the only palm considered adapted to the mangrove biome.
(2) In the Ayutthaya period, twenty-two ferry routes were between the mainland and the city island. The southern area had six ferries the five other crossings were: Wat Phanan Choeng to Hua Sarapha near the arched gateway of Talat Rong Lek, Tha Phra Ratchawangsan to Wat Khun Phrom, Tha Dan Chi to Wat Surintharam, Tha Chakrai Noi to Wat Tha Rap and Tha Wang Chai to Wat Nak.
References:
[1] Khamhaikan Khun Luang Wat Pradoosongtham [the testimony of Khun Luang Wat Pradu Songtham] (2534) Bangkok: The Secretariat Office to Prime Minister. p. 54.
