Chedi Hak – Stupa and Temple History

Chedi Hak in Ban Chedi Hak is an archaeological site associated with an abandoned temple. The site was registered as an ancient monument in 1998. Its historical context spans the Dvaravati period through the Ayutthaya Kingdom, providing a broad timeframe for exploring the site. There are also specific architectural details: a small, tall, octagonal stupa, as well as building foundations west of its base. For travelers interested in temple history, this offers a cultural focus that brings together history, architectural form, and local names.

Archaeological History and Local Names

The Fine Arts Department carried out excavations and restoration work at Chedi Hak in 1989. It was registered as an ancient monument in 1998. The dates mark different events: 1989 for the work at Chedi Hak, and 1998 for its registration. Nine years separate them. These dates add to the historical context but do not replace it: Dvaravati through Ayutthaya refers to the broad historical timeframe, while 1989 and 1998 mark specific, more recent events. This makes it possible to view the site’s history across different timeframes—from its historical classification to archaeological work and registration.

Wat Chetthiyaram was formerly known locally as Wat Ban That and Wat Chedi Hak. These two names add a local linguistic dimension to the temple’s history. The former name Wat Chedi Hak, in particular, connects the history of the temple’s names with the name of the archaeological site. Wat Ban That is another former local name. Alongside the historical context and architectural remains, the local names are also part of the site’s history.

Stupa and Architectural Remains

Chedi Hak is a small, tall, octagonal stupa made of brick and laterite and covered in plaster. Several features shape its architectural description: its octagonal form, its size and height, and the materials used. “Small” and “tall” refer to different dimensions and therefore do not contradict each other. The plaster coating is also part of the structure’s description and complements the details about the brick and laterite. Together, these features give a concrete picture of the stupa, beyond its name and the site’s historical timeframe.

West of the stupa’s base are building foundations that are thought to have belonged to a vihara. This location detail adds another architectural feature to the description of the stupa. The degree of certainty differs: the foundations are west of the base, while their identification as a vihara remains tentative. Thus, a specifically described stupa stands alongside foundations with a probable building function. This combination adds another architectural dimension to the archaeological site without presenting the possible interpretation of the foundations as an established fact.

Different kinds of evidence therefore come together in the interpretation of Chedi Hak. The historical timeframe, the work carried out in 1989, and the registration in 1998 belong to different time periods. The temple names preserve a history of local naming, while the stupa and foundations describe the site’s architectural character. Visitors interested in archaeological sites and temple history will find a clear thematic introduction to Chedi Hak here.

Discover more destinations: Tao Pun, Ban Pong, Chom Bueng, Damnoen Saduak, Amphoe Ban Kha, Na Muang, Ban Rai, Suan Phung

For the broader travel overview: Ratchaburi.