Exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park (Part 3): Close Encounter with Thai Elephants

I didn’t know where to go after visiting Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana. There are other temples in Ayutthaya Historical Park but thought then that visiting a third temple is too much. I will be seeing the same ruins and the same Buddha statues.

I just walked without any direction until I saw two mammoths walking down the street.

Elephants! It was a delightful sight to see a live elephant although it was not my first time to get near one. In fact, I met Manila Zoo’s controversial elephant before I went to Thailand. Also, I touched an elephant skull during my visit to Phukhieo Wildilife Park.

Riding on an elephant is a must-experience in Thailand. Tourists go from all over the world just to experience riding the ancient “car” of kings and maharajahs.

I followed the Thai elephant until I reached their pen where I saw more Thai elephants.

I discovered, to my dismay, that riding an elephant costs more than 100 baht. I didn’t want to spend that large amount of money. It is not worth it.

So I just contented myself at taking photos of the elephants in their pens.

I even took a selfie with them…

My closest encounter with a Thai elephant.

...and an elephant touched my palm. He thought that I have food. :-P

I bet that elephant is so disappointed.

Elephants are important part of Thai culture. They served as beasts of burden. More importantly, they served as the cavalry during ancient wars. Elephants are effective in destroying the formation of foot soldiers. Just imagine that you’re a soldier in the ancient times and a group of war elephants rampage towards you. I’m sure that you will run away lest you be stomped to death.

War elephants served ancient armies from Europe to Africa to India to Southeast Asia. The Romans, for instance, had a hard time fighting the Carthaginian general Hannibal because of the Carthage’s war elephants.

The Thai government recognized the importance of elephants in their culture that’s why they became the symbol of Thailand. It is evident in the royal seals and coat of arms.

The elephants in Ayutthaya Historical Park are trained while they were young. Thus, their obedience to the mahouts (elephant trainers) are deeply ingrained to their psyche (if they have that).

I was in for a treat that day when I saw a young elephant play with his mahout, which I recorded in this video:

That treat is enough for me. I’ve seen the elephants up close. I even touched one of them. Contented, I moved to another place in Ayutthaya Historical Park.

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Read my other adventures in Ayutthaya Historical Park:

Exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park (Part 1): The Ruins of Wat Mahathat
Exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park (Part 2): The Crypt of Wat Ratchaburana
Exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park (Part 4): St. Joseph Church of Ayutthaya
A Biker’s Adventure in Ayutthaya Historical Park

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Exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park (Part 2): The Crypt of Wat Ratchaburana

Ayutthaya was the mistress of ancient Southeast Asia. Her power is well known even to the Europeans. She is so rich that many treasures are hidden within her prangs, wats, and palaces. The invading Burmese got most of the treasures but they missed the ones in Wat Ratchaburana.

Wat Ratchaburana is an interesting structure in Ayutthaya Historical Park because it looked like a giant corn from a distance.

The mysterious giant corn.

The gargantuan corn is actually the prang of Wat Ratchaburana. The design is the prime example of Ayutthaya’s architecture and art.

Wat Ratchaburana was one of the few temples in Ayutthaya Historical Park that was spared from destruction when the Burmese sacked the city in 1767. Too bad for them that they didn’t demolish it because they missed the great treasures inside it.

Entering Wat Ratchaburana is not easy for a “makunat” person like me because I shelled out another 50 Baht for the admission fee. I previously spent 50 Baht when I entered Wat Mahathat so I already spent 100 Baht for this adventure.

If I just pretended that I’m Thai then maybe I could enter this wat for free.

Wat Ratchaburana was built by Somdet Phra Borommaracha II over the cremation site of his brothers who duelled for the throne on elephant’s backs. In short, Somdet Phra Borommaracha II got the crown easily after his two elder brothers died foolishly.

Restoration works are being done on Wat Ratchaburana during my visit. Scaffolding stood beside the main prang while experts are doing their work quietly.

It’s good that the Thai government is committed in preserving their historical treasures.

Just like other Buddhist temples that I saw in Thailand, Wat Ratchaburana is replete with statues and symbols from Buddhist and Hindu mythology.

The main prang showcases statues of the Garuda and nagas (giant snakes). There are statues of Hindu gods too but I don’t recognize them.

Of course, Buddha will not be absent.

Just like Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana has a grand hall where monks did their rituals in the past. Unfortunately, the grand hall was destroyed by the Burmese.

There’s nothing much to see in the Grand Hall other than its walls, columns, and brick floor. All the Buddha statues that resided in this hall are now gone. The only thing that’s best for the Grand Hall is its very good view of Wat Ratchaburana:

I didn’t expect that Wat Ratchaburana has a surprise for me. I thought that I will be just looking at ruins and its exterior but lo and behold! A staircase going down the depths of the temple.

The not so mysterious tunnel made me feel like I’m the Tomb Raider. Too bad that there was no trap that sprung or any monster that blocked my path. It was just an empty crypt. No, make that an “empty and smelly crypt”. I say it’s smelly not because something is decaying (like a mummified Thai king) but possibly because of the mold.

The crypt is not even a tomb. It is, actually, a reliquary and it was said that it once contained a relic of Buddha. 

Inside the crypt are the faded paintings of Buddha.

The photo is not good because the paintings are too faded. I believe that the paintings’ deterioration will continue because of the humidity inside the Wat Rachaburana’s crypt.

Aside from Buddha’s relic, the crypt also contained gold and precious stones. In fact, looters raided Wat Ratchaburana in the past and they hauled great amount of treasures. The looters were caught and some of the stolen items were recovered.

The Thai government made their own digging inside Wat Ratchaburana and they unearthed golden Buddha statues, votive tablets, royal regalia, and other precious items.¹ Too bad that they didn’t left anything for the poor tourist like me.

I didn’t stay long inside the crypt because of the smell. I climbed up quickly for a breath of fresh air.

The open walkway just outside Wat Ratchaburana’s entrance is the perfect place for viewing the whole Wat Ratchaburana complex. It is also the perfect place for a selfie, like this one:

Wat Ratchaburana is more interesting that the nearby Wat Mahathat because of its crypt. Also, Wat Mahathat has nothing but ruins while Wat Ratchaburana’s main prang is still intact. If you’re visiting Ayutthaya Historical Park then you must enter the crypt of Wat Ratchaburana. Maybe you’ll get one precious stone that is stuck in the corner.

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Read my adventures in Ayutthaya Historical Park:

Exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park (Part 1): The Ruins of Wat Mahathat
Exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park (Part 3): Close Encounter with Thai Elephants
Exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park (Part 4): St. Joseph Church of Ayutthaya
A Biker’s Adventure in Ayutthaya Historical Park

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Some information on this post came from this source:

1. Tourism Thailand

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