Wat Kachai (วัดกระช้าย) with Drone Footage - Ayutthaya Thailand

Wat Kachai (วัดกระช้าย)

Wat Krachai is located off the main island, on the western side of the city. It can easily be seen at a distance even though it can be difficult to actually visit. Perched in the middle of several rice fields, where seasonal flooding is commonplace, Wat Kachai has remained
highly isolated until recently. The Fine Arts Department is also renovating this monastery to help with its preservation.

Wat Krachai is a large ruin with a number of structures in situ. Its most outstanding feature is a large bell-shaped chedi in the Early Ayutthaya period style. This chedi has been heavily looted over the years, and many large holes have been burrowed deep into the chedi’s surface, weakening the structure.

In addition, there are partially excavated remains of a large ubosot on site. The debris of
several Buddha images and sema stones have been stacked on top of the ubosot. Wat Kachai is also surrounded by a number of walls that are clearly visible. These walls provide a good idea on how the monastery had once been designed. Finally, recent excavations at Wat Kachai suggest that even more structures once stood at this monastery.

Wat Kachai was used by the Burmese army as a stockade during the fall of Ayutthaya
in 1767. Royal Chronicles state that Burmese troops advanced forward and established
stockades at the Monastery of the Krachai plant, the Monastery of the Victory Pavilion, the Monastery of the Tortoise (Stove), the Monastery of God Indra, and the Monastery of Red. The Burmese built bastions in each of these stockades and used them to fire on the capital with large and small guns. Wat Krachai
was greatly damaged during the final Burmese invasion. Excavations around the site have
yielded weapons such as swords, spears, lances, and bullets.

A number of Ayutthaya residents claim that this temple is haunted by many ghosts, so they warn against making visits. It is believed that some horrible unknown event took place near this site, such as the mass cremation of the war dead.

Other Thais say that local citizens were brought to this site by Burmese soldiers for execution. According to local folklore, real estate development is not allowed anywhere near the monastery in order to prevent the ghosts from waking. There are no historical documents to back up any of these beliefs, but such viewpoints add to the mystique of Wat Krachai.

The temple highlight is the Chedi and interesting to know the history. It is isolated but worth a short visit if you enjoy exploring places most tourists have never even heard of.

Enjoy the video!

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