Wat Ho Rakang & Lang Ka - Unseen Temple Tour Ayutthaya Thailand 2025

3 months ago
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Wat Ho Rakhang วัดหอระฆัง

Wat Ho Rakhang or the Monastery of the Bell Tower is located on the western side of the Makham Riang Canal on the city island near several other sites.

The most outstanding feature at this restored monastery is its two-tiered bell tower. This tower doubles as an entrance gate from the canal. It has arched gateways along the east/west axis.

The second tier has windows in all four of the cardinal directions, and there are number of indented corners. The bell is completely missing.

Behind the bell tower, there are the remains of a sermon hall. This consists of the basic foundation layer and some pillar bases. A large number of headless Buddha images lay in stacks on the altar. In addition, there are traces of some walls and floor tiles on site.

Royal Chronicles do make several reference to a "Monastery of the Bell". Sometime between 1610-1611, Si Saowaphak inherited the throne after the death of King Ekathotsarot. Around this time, Phra Si Sin received a special religious
appointment becausehe was versed in scriptures and royal manuals while ordained as a monk at the Monastery of the Bell.

Phra Si Sin used this new position to form a secret plot to remove the king from the throne. Si Saowaphak was later executed with a sandalwood club at Wat Khok Phraya. He only lasted one year and two months as King.

Wat Langka วัดลังกา

Wat Langka is located along the eastern side of Khlong Makham Riang, which was known as Khlong Nai Kai during the Ayutthaya period.

On site is a single prang-shaped stupa in the Khmer style. The stucco designs on this
prang are still visible in some sections, and a headless figure wielding a sword is perched
high above on the southwestern side. There is a hole on the eastern side that can be entered of the relic chamber.

There is no record of when this temple was built. However, the Khmer-influenced prang and geographic location suggests that it was constructed in the early Ayutthaya period.

The Khmer-influenced prang was the architectural style used for building stupa in the
Early Ayutthaya period, and Wat Langka is the only monastery in the Chao Phrom area that has a Khmer prang. There was also a coconut grove in the vicinity of Wat Langka, which a canal was named after (Khlong Maphrao).

These two temples are not often visited but they both have some interesting architecture and worth a short stop.

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