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Page 1 of 2  | | Phra Mongkhonbophit |
Thailand has been a tremendous attraction for visitors for centuries. This country is not only traditional but also modern and full of beautiful sights in central part, on the north and in Issan attract with swimming and on the south with diving. It is charmingly romantic in national parks and absolutely not forgettable during Thai celebrations.
Thailand or Siam, named by the year 1939, was never colonized unlike its neighbours. In the past the country was several times occupied by its neighbours but regardless hold always its independency and influence of individualisms.
 | | Phra Mongkhonpobhit |
In spite of the Thai people being described as a nation which likes entertainment and piece of mind, Thailand bears nickname - the country of smiles, it is a nation deeply thoughtful, loyal to Buddhism, loyal to the royal family and is proud of 700 years lasting, never lost independency. The result of all this is that Thailand is always something to offer, history, old culture, present art, exotic islands, night life, visit of manufacture where the highest value is human skill, beautiful women, tradition of hospitality and finally one of the most well-know cuisine in the world. And right the variety of Thailand is spice of life in Thailand.
 | | Wat Chaiwatthanaram |
From colourful roofs of churches in Bangkok to majestic remains of churches in ancient capitals of Siam, romantic atmosphere of seaside resorts - everyone can discover whatever comes to them mind. It does not matter how many times you have been there, you can always come to something what you have never been experienced. Or how the smiling Thailand people believe in that on your first visit the seed of lotus blows into your body and leave a tie of permanent memories, inspirations and returns.
 | | Wat Yai Chai Mongkol |
The oldest archaeological excavations are the evidence of existence of human being already about 3600 BC. Roots of Thailand dwellers are in the valley of the river Jangtse in south-eastern Chine where was founded independent kingdom Nan-čao. In 1253 this kingdom was attacked and conquered by Kublajchan. His invasion caused mass movement to the south of Siam. The Thailand people settled down in fertile valley of the river Chao Phraya and here they established the capital Sukhothai. 100 years later they appointed as a capital Ayuthayua and it was the capital from 1350 to 1769. After destroying Ayutthaya by Burmese army, general Taksin declared as a capital Thonburi, which is today one of Bangkok’s parts. His successor general Chakri removed the capital to the other river bank because of safety reasons and built up palaces in Bang Makok, which is today’s centre of the capital. General Chakri was pronounced the King Rama I., became a founder still ruling dynasty. To this dynasty the capital is grateful for impressive forts, palaces and churches.
 | | Wat Yai Chai Mongkol |
Ayutthaya remained as the capital of Thailand for 417 years and has been registered as a world heritage by the World Committee / UNESCO.
The royal palace was located here from the establishment of Ayutthaya in the reign of King Ramathibodi I to the reign of King Sam Phraya. Later, King Borommatrailokanat ordered a temple (wat) to be built on this site in 1448 A.D. to be utilized as a monastic area.
After the reign of King Borommatrailokanat, his son King Ramthibody II, ordered the construction of two pagodas (chedis). One of them was to house the remains of his father and the other those of his brother. King Borommarachathirat III. Another pagoda was built by the order of King Borommarachanophuttangkun. It was similarly used to house royal remains those of King Ramathibody II. In 1499, a principal Viharn was built. The following year in 1500 A.D., King Ramathibodi II, commanded the casting of a standing Buddha image 16 metres in height and covered with gold. This image, Phra Buddha Chao Si Sanphet, was the main object of veneration in the royal Viharn. After that time the ashes of members of all royal family members and the kings were placed in small chedis constructed at the site. Wat Phra Si San Phet was a royal chapel and as such did not have a Sangavasa (no monks dwelt there). It was used for royal ceremonies and rituals including giving alms to the monks from other temples, and performing the Wian Tian ceremony on Buddhist holy days, which entails circumambulation the Viharn three times at night holding an offering of a candle, flowers and incense.
When Ayutthaya was sacked in 1767 A.D. the gold that had covered the Buddha image and other decorations was taken by the invaders. During his reign King Rama I of the Ratanakosin Period ordered the transfer of the inner core of Phra Buddha Chao Si Sanphet from Ayutthaya to wat Phra Chetuphon, Bangkok, and had it placed in a chedi specially built for the purpose. Another Buddha image of importance called Phralokanat was also brought to this wat at around the same time.
Wat Phra Ram is situated to the east of the Royal Palace. You have possibly learnt from the Chronicle of Luang Prasert that King Ramesuan built it in 1369 A.D., on the site where the remains of the King of U-Thong´s father, was cremated.
In the early Ayutthaya period there was no particular place specifically set aside for royal cremation ceremonies. When a king died an area would be chosen for that royal ritual. After the ceremonies had been performed the location where the cremation took place became the site of a new monastery. For example, Wat Phra Ram is located where King U Thong was cremated. Only as of the reign of King Songhtam is there evidence of a specific area having been reserved for this purpose.
 | | Wat Yai Chai Mongkol |
The chronicles mention that in 1610 A.D. King Songtham ordered the Buddha image known as Phra Mongkhonbophit to be moved from the east to the west and commanded the construction of a mandapa (square roofed structure) to house this image of the Buddha. In 1612 A.D. an order was carried out to level the earth in front of the Viharn so that cremations could take place there. Phra Mongkhonbophit has been identified as the image which King Chairachathirat had ordered sculpted in 1538 A.D at Wat Chichiang.
 | | Wat Yai Chai Mongkol |
Wat Chaiwatthanaram, one of the most imposing ancient Buddhist monasteries, was established by the command of King Prasatthong in 1630 A.D. It is believed that this wat is located on the site of his former home. The reason for building this monastery was to make merit for his mother. The historian Prince Damrong Rachanuphap noted that its architecture was similar to that of Angkor Wat and was inferred that Wat might have been built to commemorate the king’s victory over Cambodia.
 | | Wat Yai Chai Mongkol |
Wat Phra Chao Phya-thai, popularly known as Wat Yai Chai-mongkol, is situated to the southeast of the city. The large chedi there can be seen from a great distance. This monastery was built by King U-thong in 1357 A.D. for the use of the monks who had returned from Ceylon after studying under Phra Vanarat Maha Thera. This body of monks was known as the Pa Kaeo Sect. So this monastery was originally known as Wat Pa Kaeo. The monks of this sect were engaged mainly in meditation. Many people who respected these monks joined their order. The king conferred the title of (Somdej Phra Vanarat) on the head of the sect, and appointed him The Patriarch on the Right Hand Side. He was on a par with Somdej Phra Buddha-kosacharn, who headed the sect mainly engaged in study of the scripture, and was known as the Patriarch on the Left Hand Side. This monastery was the place where the patriarch stayed, so it was also named Wat Chao Phya-thay which means The Temple of the Supreme Patriarch.
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