Here is a picture of a popular Buddhist temple in the old capital of Thailand – Ayutthaya. Ayutthaya is about 1 1/2 hours north of Bangkok and if you have an interest in temples, it is well worth the ride.
The highlight is a large chedi:
It which was expanded by King Naresuan in order to celebrate his victory over the Burmese army. That’s why there is a large statue of King Naresuan on the temple compound, and people come here to worship and ask for the fulfillment of their wishes:
King Naresuan was an avid fan of cockfighting, and that’s why to this day you find these statues of cocks on the temple compound in honor of his memory.
Inside the compound there are Buddhist statues where people make offerings:
This temple is like many temples in Thailand – it was first built long time ago on a small scale, and then expanded in several steps over successive reigns. It was also renamed repeatedly, and other names which it carried throughout history have been Wat Pra Keow, Wat Chao Praya Thai or Wat Yai Chaya Mongkhon.
The city of Ayutthaya itself was established in 1351 by King U-Thong.
The temple was first constructed in honor of two princes (whose names were Chao Kaeo and Chao Thai) who both died of cholera in 1357. The then reigning king Ramathibodi ordered that a monastery should be built on the site where their bodies have been cremated.
Then Buddhist monks who had been trained and ordained in Sri Lanka used the monastery to further their religious practice.
There are many historical events that took place on the temple compound.
It can be really nice to stroll over the temple compound and just let the serene atmosphere of the place have its effect on your mind. And it’s best to come with a personal tour guide who can tell you stories of the place, answer questions and give you a context to help you better understand the meanings of the many interesting and maybe seemingly curious things that you will see here.
When Thai people come here they always like to stop to eat a noodle soup here – it’s very popular for their delicious taste.