Wat Pho Phueak, or the Monastery of the White Bodhi Tree, is located in the southwest of the city island in the Pratu Chai Sub-district, west of the Somdet Phra Sri Nakharin Park. This area is still part of the Ayutthaya Historical Park.
In situ is a ruin covered in vegetation. Several foundations of walls and chedis are still visible. On the site, there is an abandoned construction from recent times.
Its historical background and period of construction are unknown.
The monastery is mentioned on a 19th-century map of an unknown surveyor but here denominated Wat Chayaram (วัดไชยาราม). It is positioned between Khlang (Wat) Wang Chai and Wat Raeng. (1)
Wat Pho Phuek shows in a similar position on Phraya Boran Ratchathanin's map drafted in 1926 CE. Phraya Boran (1871-1936 CE) was the Superintendent Commissioner of Monthon Ayutthaya from 1925 till 1929 CE but occupied important functions since 1896 CE in Monthon Ayutthaya.
Near Wat Chayaram was one of the former four western ferries across the old Lopburi River - at present the Chao Phraya River (2) - linking the monastery with Ban Chi (Village of the Nuns) situated between Wat Chai Watthanaram and Wat Sanam Luang (3) [1]
Wat Pho Phueak is in geographical coordinates: 14° 20' 32.86" N, 100° 32' 51.99" E.
Footnotes:
(1) There is a possibility that Wat Chayaram and Wat Nok situated west of Wat Luang Chi Krut on the 19th-century map could be Wat Saiya and Wat Nok figuring east of Wat Luang Chi Krut on Phraya Boran Ratchathanin's map drafted in 1926 CE.
(2) The Chao Phraya River has deviated into the river bed of the old Lopburi River in the post-Ayutthaya era in the year 1857 CE.
(3) In Ayutthaya times, there were twenty-two ferry routes between the mainland and the city island. In the western area, the three other crossings were: the crossing from the Rear Palace to Wat Lot Chong, from Tha Dan Lom to Wat Kasatra and from Ban Chao Phraya Phonlathep’s to Wat Thamma. [1]
