Chedi Phukhao Thong ( th, เจดีย์ภูเขาทอง) is a 50-metre
''
chedi'', or
Buddhist tower, in the village of
Phukhao Thong near
Ayutthaya in central
Thailand. Visitors can climb as far a landing halfway up the ''chedi'', from which the surrounding
rice fields and the town of Ayutthaya can be seen. In 2014 it was possible for the public to visit the shrine inside the central tower.
History
In 1569, having taken
Ayutthaya, King
Bayinnaung of
Hongsawadi (now part of
Myanmar
Myanmar, ; UK pronunciations: US pronunciations incl. . Note: Wikipedia's IPA conventions require indicating /r/ even in British English although only some British English speakers pronounce r at the end of syllables. As John C. Wells, Joh ...
) built a large ''chedi'', next to the Buddhist temple of Wat Phukhao Thong, to commemorate his victory. The chedi was never completed, only the base was ever constructed when in 1587, Prince
Naresuan, to commemorate his victory over the Burmese in 1584 following Ayutthaya's liberation from Burma, decided to build a Thai-style chedi over the base of the still-unfinished chedi. Over the next two centuries the ''chedi'' fell into disrepair. In a restoration during the reign of King
Boromakot
Borommakot ( th, บรมโกศ, ) or Maha Thammarachathirat II ( th, สมเด็จพระมหาธรรมราชาธิราชที่ ๒) was the king of Ayutthaya from 1733 to 1758. His reign was the last blooming perio ...
(ruled 1733–1758) a new ''chedi'' in Thai style, having a square plan with
indented corners, was built on the base of the ruin.
[Information panels in the grounds of Wat Phukhao Thong, written by Thai Fine Arts Department, transcribed 2008]
The adjacent temple, founded by King
Ramesuan in 1387, is still in use.
References
Buddhist temples in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province
Buildings and structures in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province
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