Ban It: Temples by the Water and History

Three temples offer different insights into place names, historical accounts, and architectural forms. Wat Aranyikawat is located beside an irrigation canal, while Wat Mathurotsatiyaram stands on the Prakham-Thong River. Wat Chang is distinguished by a chedi from the late Ayutthaya period. These differences can help you identify the destination’s cultural highlights when looking for a hotel in Ban It.

Temples by a Canal and a River

Wat Aranyikawat stands on the bank of an irrigation canal and is also known to locals as Wat Mai Ta Phaen. Its location beside the canal sets it apart from Wat Mathurotsatiyaram, which is on the Prakham-Thong River. Both descriptions place the temples by the water, but beside different bodies of water. When exploring Ban It’s religious buildings, you can first consider their respective surroundings rather than identifying them by name alone.

Their names also have different historical associations. Nai Phaen and Nang Hae Nakwaree were the first builders of Wat Aranyikawat. Wat Mathurotsatiyaram was formerly called Wat Kuti; this former name is therefore a useful way to distinguish it when learning about the two temples. For Wat Aranyikawat, the history of its name is part of the information about its builders, while for Wat Mathurotsatiyaram, it relates to the name of the site.

Chedi and Temple Architecture

Wat Chang, also called Chang Hai, is located in Ban Nam Phueng, Moo 5 of the Ban It Subdistrict, Mueang Ang Thong District, Ang Thong Province. Its address is House Number 55, Moo 5. One of its distinctive features is a bell-shaped chedi from the late Ayutthaya period. It contains the ashes of Chao Phraya Akkharamahasenabodi Phra Ratcha Manu, also known as Luang Pho Phet. Its form, historical period, and the name associated with the chedi give this building a different focus from the two temples by the water.

The dating of the two buildings is not equally certain: the chedi at Wat Chang dates from the late Ayutthaya period, while Wat Mathurotsatiyaram, formerly called Wat Kuti, is also thought to date from this period. When comparing them, it is useful to distinguish the definite dating of the chedi from the tentative dating of the temple. Both indications point to the same historical period, but they do not express the same degree of certainty.

At Wat Mathurotsatiyaram, another detail draws attention to the architecture: the ubosot has a curved silhouette reminiscent of a traditional sampan boat. Here, the focus is not the chedi but the shape of the ubosot. Together with its location on the Prakham-Thong River, this creates a different impression from Wat Chang, where the defining features are the bell-shaped form and the historical figure associated with the chedi.

The three temples can therefore be distinguished by specific features: Wat Aranyikawat by the irrigation canal, its local name, and its first builders; Wat Mathurotsatiyaram by its former name, Wat Kuti, its tentative dating, and the sampan-like silhouette of its ubosot; and Wat Chang by its location in Ban Nam Phueng and the chedi containing the ashes of Luang Pho Phet. This overview provides a factual starting point for weighing Ban It’s cultural offerings when choosing a destination.

Discover more destinations: Talat Luang, Talat Mai.

Return to the main travel overview: Ang Thong.