Khai Taksin
| Native Name | ค่ายตากสิน, ខៃតាក់ស៊ីន |
|---|---|
| BA# | T22017 |
| CISARK# | 4276 |
| K Inscription | K.???, K.??? |
| Inscr. Location | Wat Thong Thua Museum |
| Size | Small |
| Condition | Tuol |
| Type | Temple |
| Location | |
| Commune | Wat Mai |
| District | Muang Chanthaburi |
| Province | Chanthaburi |
| Country | Thailand |
| Coordinates | 12.61968, 102.111094 |
| History | |
| Material | Laterite |
Khai Taksin (ค่ายตากสิน - Pronounced: Kai Tak-sin)
This present-day Thai military base was constructed on the site of an earlier military camp dating to the reign of the 18th-century Thai king Taksin. (This highly prestigious Thai monarch - known as Taksin the Great - fought several campaigns against both the Burmese and Khmers during the mid to latter half of the century.
A well-preserved and recently restored French garrison building indicates that the area continued to serve a military function into the 19th century. However, Taksin's 18th-century camp, in turn, incorporated the site of an even earlier, 8th-century, Khmer sanctuary.
Today the site consists of a low, earthen mound with a few scattered laterite fragments a short distance west of the base's helipad and some 350m north-northeast of the aforementioned French Garrison. (For which we've used the modern Thai name: Khai Thahan Farang Set. However, it would appear the ruins were considerably more substantial during the 18th century as quantities of laterite blocks were transported from the site to be reused at the site of another, nearby King Taksin walled encampment Wat Yotha Nimit (Chanthaburi).
At some stage, two inscribed fragments were unearthed at Khai Taksin - presumably at or close to the laterite ruins - which were subsequently 'rediscovered' by Thai archaeologists housed in the French garrison building. While these may initially have been unearthed during the dismantling of the structure by Takson's troops it would appear that a French officer saw fit to provide them with a safer home in the meantime.
The inscribed fragments are in Sanskrit and ancient Khmer with both using a late Pallava script dated to the late 8th century and are now to be found displayed in Chanthaburi's Wat Thong Thua Museum. We're uncertain if any additional artefacts from here are housed in the museum and if King Taksin's soldiers did find any additional statues or objects their whereabouts today are likely unknown.
Members of the public are permitted to enter the military base and can visit the restored French building as well as the nearby mound site.
Map Location
Image Gallery
Entrance to military camp
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Historic Archive
A collection of historic photographs, artist sketches, maps etc. (Please ensure that anything you do upload is free of copyright and/or you have permission from the original photographer/artist/author to share)
Nearby Sites
- Boran Sathan Muang Paniat
- Khai Taksin
- Khai Thahan Farang Set
- Khao Ploy Waen
- Khao Sra Bap
- Khlung
- Ku Paniat
- National Maritime Museum
- Prasat Chi
- Prasat Noen Sung
- Prasat Paniat Rang
- Prasat Somphan
- Prasat Ti
- Rong Rien Benchamarachuthit
- San Por Hin Mo
- T22014
- T22015
- T22016
- Wat Bon
- Wat Bot Muang
- Wat Klang
- Wat Sra Bap
- Wat Thong Thua
- Wat Thong Thua Museum
- Wat Yotha Nimit (Chanthaburi)
External Links
Links to additional resources such as articles, websites, videos etc.
References