Temple Church (abandoned)

Terrain

General Condition

Wat Bot is currently located within Nongkhao Kowitpittayakom School. in Nong Khao Subdistrict Geographical features are generally river plains. If considering the condition of the area, it can be said that Wat Bot is located on a mound that is separated from the main clay mound where the present Nong Khao Subdistrict is located.

The Wat Bot soil mound is approximately 800 meters long (along the north-south line), about 350 meters wide (along the east-west line), 600 meters from the main mound to the east, surrounded by agricultural areas. There is an irrigation canal and agricultural area between the two mounds. There are traces of a small ancient river. in the west of the mound (Or in the east of the main mound), the main mound has traces of a small river. flowing around Wat Bot Chedi is currently located approximately 9.3 kilometers north of the Mae Klong River.

Height above mean sea level

Waterway

Mae Klong River

Geological conditions

Mae Klong River Basin formed by the deposition of convective sediments during the Holocene period.

Archaeological Era

era/culture

Types of archaeological sites

archaeological essence

The history of the Chedi Wat Bot (abandoned) is not known for sure, but local history indicates that when Ayutthaya was the capital. Kanchanaburi is a frontier city and an army route. At that time, Nong Khao Sub-district consisted of 2 villages, namely Dong Rang Village. (There is a village temple, which is Wat Som Yai or Wat Yai Dong Rang) and Don Kradueng Village. (There is a church temple as a temple in the village)

The war with Burma in the late Ayutthaya period, the villagers of the two villages gathered together to fight the enemy bravely. (There is evidence of the fighting area at Thung Khu in the present Nong Khao Subdistrict) until the village was destroyed. Only the remains of temples and pagodas remain. After the war ended, the villagers fled and gathered around the big swamp. set up a village "Ban Nong Ya Dok Khao"

in the Rattanakosin period Many kings went to Ban Dok Nong Ya Khao. Because it is a route through Kanchanaburi, such as King Rama IV and King Rama 5, he went to Kan and passed Nong Khao, as the Rattanakosin Chronicle of Chao Phraya Thiphakonwong said that the next morning on Friday, the 14th night of the waning moon, he left the pavilion. Kan city to Ban Nong Khao pavilion stay for one night and wrote in one part of the Diary poem that

“People abound, but they see more than five hundred sitting in front of the tabernacle, writing tables, betel nut, and rustic khan pan. Four-five cylinders of Khao Lam Khao Lam, Khanom Phai, arranged in succession until each other, little by little, sat and waited to offer offerings, surrounded in unison. addressing every page that came, they responded with their voices. Listen to Nana as if with a different accent. Some of them raised their voices against each other.”

Nong Khao village has grown in order until now. Wat Som Yai or Wat Yai Dong Rang, the temple of Dong Rang Village, still exists today. But Wat Bot, the temple of Don Kradueng village has been abandoned. At present, the Wat Bot area has become the site of Nongkhao Kowitpittayakom School. All that remained was a pagoda. The villagers said that the chedi they saw was only the top. The base was deeply sunk into the soil. Additionally, during the plowing phase to build the school's football field, many antiques were found.

The traces of the ancient site of Wat Bot appear only in the chedi. It is located between the football field and the school building of Nongkhao Kowitpittayakom School. (located to the north of the football stadium south of the school building) The condition of the area is open, planted with grass, ornamental plants and other perennial plants. surrounded by open space The evidence appeared to be an abandoned pagoda. Located within Nongkhao Kowitpittayakom School

The state of the pagoda is an abandoned pagoda. has not yet been restored. It is a recessed chedi made of bricks and mortar, showing only the base and bell body. The base is a set of lion bases. They are 1.5 meters wide on each side. Most of them are in disrepair. Only the bell body and the top tier lotus base are in perfect condition. The base of the lion is also clearly visible on the north, east and south sides. The height from the current working floor to the top is about 3 meters from the architecture and history of the area. It is assumed that this chedi was probably built in the late Ayutthaya period.

The entire southwestern base was drilled into a large cavity. making it visible within the pagoda that is an open space The north side of the pagoda or the school building has a sign. "Old Chedi Wat Bot" is embroidered

Wat Bot Chedi (abandoned) has not been registered as an ancient site.