Page 6 - Journal Group Ebook

ATTRACTION

ATTRACTION: PHRA CHEDI SISURIYOTHAI
Chedi Phra Sri Suriyothai is located on the western part of
the city island near the Office of Archeology and National
Museum on U-tong Rd. This Phra Chedi is one of a very
important archeological site in Ayutthaya Historical Park. It
is the monument of the first Thai heroine, Somdet Phra Sri
Suriyothai who died during an elephant duel between Maha
Chakkraphat and the Viceroy of Prome and is also a symbol
of Thai women's honor in Thailand since the ancient time.

Reigned the kingdom and had Somdet Phra Sri Suriyothai as
his wife. After having reigned for 7 months, Tabinshwehti
and Bayinnaung surrounded Ayutthaya by using the
invasion route via the Three Pagodas Pass towards
Kanchanaburi, and then to the capital Ayutthaya. Somdet
Phra Chakkaphat mounted his war elephant with his son
accompanying. Somdet Phra Sri Suriyothai was so worried
that she dressed in make military attire and followed them
on a war elephant. When the Ayutthaya army had faced the
vanguard of Tabinshwehti's army led by the Viceroy, Somdet
Phra Maha Chakkraphat gave flight but the elephant
charged away from the enemy. Somdet Phra Sri Suriyothai,
therefore, charged ahead between the King and the Viceroy
to block his pursuit and was fatally cleaved from shoulder to
heart with his spear. After the war, Somdet Phra Maha
Chakkraphat ordered a grand cremation and placed Queen
Sri Suriyothai's body at Suan Luang, the Royal Garden, was
then known as Wat Sop Sawan.

Afterwards, during the reign of Rama V, there were
investigations to find places mentioned in the royal annals in
order to compile into books. The finding led to the location of
Wat Sop Sawan where the big Chedi was found. Rama VI
later called it “Chedi Phra Sri Suriyothai”.

In 1990, The Fine Arts Department restored the damaged
Chedi and, from the restoration, they found some ancient
objects such as a glass image of Buddha, a model of the Chedi,
and a golden casket with relics inside. They are all preserved
in Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.