Wat Tong Pu
| Native Name | วัดตองปุ, វត្តតុងពូ |
|---|---|
| BA# | T15015 |
| Type | Wat |
| Location | |
| Commune | Tha Hin |
| District | Muang Lopburi |
| Province | Lopburi |
| Country | Thailand |
| Coordinates | 14.80740, 100.61632 |
Wat Tong Pu (วัดตองปุ - Pronounced: Wot Tong Poo)
This large, active Buddhist monastery situated slightly north of the town centre houses several ancient nak prok-style Buddha sculptures. The nak prok style consists of a Buddha figure seated on coils (usually three which descend in width from upper to lower) of the naga Muchalinda's body. This raised the meditating Buddha off the ground during a storm while the naga's multi-headed hood served to shelter him from the rain. They are typical of the late 12th-early 13th century Bayon-period art although some earlier Srivijaya examples are known while the style continued to be copied into subsequent periods.
One of the most prestigious images is said to be in laterite with a painted plaster coating although specialist verification is required to confirm the Khmer origins of the sculptures. The wat's collection of artefacts also includes a carved sandstone antefix - which can be convincingly assigned to a Khmer-built sanctuary - while the various halls and shrines of the sprawling complex may well house additional artefacts. Note that the principal artefact hall - a de facto, small in-house museum - is only open at weekends and during our recent visit we were unable to verify all the exhibits.
The wat was constructed during the Ayutthaya period and for our purposes, with no obvious vestiges recorded, is considered, for now, a depository rather than an ancient site in its own right. There are a few laterite blocks lying around the grounds although their antiquity requires confirmation while a section of naga balustrade now housed in the King Narai National Museum also lists Tong Pu as its provenance although again whether it was simply part of the abott's collection rather than having been unearthed in situ is not specified.
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Nearby Sites
- Ban Bo Kaeo
- Bumibhol Fort
- Don Masang
- King Narai National Museum
- Lavodayapura
- Phra Prang Sam Yot
- Prang Khaek
- San Phra Kan
- Sra Sawai
- T15024
- Wat Choeng Tha
- Wat Mahesuan
- Wat Nakhon Kosa
- Wat Nikroth
- Wat Phra Si Rattana Mahathat (Lopburi)
- Wat Sak
- Wat Sao Thong Thong
- Wat Tham Khuha Sawan
- Wat Tong Pu
- Wihan Phra Lavorojanarit Luang Pho Hin
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