The Kam Yaad Palace Hall, Ang Thong

Phra Thi Nang Kam Yaad or the Kam Yaad Palace Hall was a residence of King Uthumphon of Ayutthaya (1758 A.D.). The palace is located within the walls of Wat Pho Thong, Kam Yaad District, Pho Thong, Ang Thong Province. King Uthumphon ascended the throne after his father, King Baromakot. After ruling for only ten days, he abdicated in favor of his brother and became a monk. When Burmese troops fell on the Ayutthaya Kingdom, he left the order and joined in the defense of the capital.

After the war, he returned to his mon as tery because his broth er, King Ekathat, was not partial to his younger broth er. King Uthumphon fled far from the city himself and had the Kam Yaad Palace built. There, he stayed for a time and then moved to Wat Pradu Song Tham outside the city walls of Ayutthaya.

The palace was believed to have been constructed on the grounds of Wat Pho Thong for the convenience of King Uthumphon to perform religious rites within the temple. According to Buddhist precepts, a monk would ordinarily pray in the morning and the evening, listen to Patimok (the teachings), declare mistakes in front of the meeting group-a committee of other priests. The temple is supposed to have been deserted when Burmese occupied Ayutthaya.

Certain characteristics of the late Ayutthaya architectural style are obvious in the Buddhist mon as tery. The brick building is constructed on a high platform and basement. Also, found here is the pointed-arch door which had been a popular architectural design since the reign of King Narai the Great. The core wing is in the east. Now the roof ornaments have entirely collapsed, only the remains of the walls exist.

Back