Wat Khok Phraya

Wat Khok Phraya, or the Monastery of the Mound of the Nobles (1), is a small monastic ruin built in the early Ayutthaya period (1350-1488 CE). It is located north outside the city island in the Lum Phli Sub-district of Ayutthaya in the vicinity of Wat Na Phra Men and Wat Hatsadawat.

The ruin consists of a walled vihara with a bell-shaped chedi on an octagonal base. Several minor chedis are also in situ. A brick platform is situated on the north side. As Dutch merchant Jeremias Van Vliet described it in 1629 CE as an old ruin, the temple had to be restored several times during the centuries.

The location was witness to many punishments and executions of royals of Ayutthaya. Some locals call the place haunted. Here, the young King Thong Lan, son of King Borommaracha I (reign 1370-1388 CE), was executed by Ramesuan, the governor of Lopburi, in 1388 CE. The method used in Ayutthaya then was to tie the victim in a velvet sack and dash him in his chest with a club of sandalwood. By this means, the royal body was not touched.

Ayutthaya Historical Research