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Ban Don Chedi Ancient Remains

Ban Don Chedi Ancient Remains

Don Chedi Archeological Site is not much far from Bangkok. Visitors can get here by take a highway number 323 and turn right when you reach at Tha Muang junction and you will spot the road sign that lead you to Baan Don Chedi. Later, make a turn to the back of Wat Tung Samhor School and you will reach at the destination. The site and the ancient remains were discovered by the Fine Arts Department in 1982. There are many important remains excavated from the site such as human skeletons, ancient swords, elephant jaw bones, and pagoda remains from Ayuttaya period. From all these evidences, it can be assumed that this area was where the battle between King Naresuan of Thailand and King Minyekyawswa of Myanmar happened in Ayuttaya period. There is one big Siamese rough bush tree grows beside the Chedi and it has been a very important tree in the history of the place. This is because the annals tell that when the battle between King Naresuan and King Minyekyawswa took place, King Naresuan spot an elephant standing in front of this Siamese rough bush tree and somehow he can tell that the troops of King Minyekyawswa arrived. Later, he ride an elephant directly head to that way and called out King Minyekyawswa for a battle. After hearing the call from King Naresuan, King Minyekyawswa felt embarrassed so he came out of the shade and start off the battle. It has been stated in the history of Ayuttaya; Wan Walit issued, that the battle between King Naresuan and King Minyekyawswa took place in the area nearby one abandoned temple. This is exactly match the plan of Don Chedi Archeological Site as there is one abandoned temple lies 1.5 kilometers away to the south. Presently, this temple is called Wat Baan Noi and visitors can still spot old pagodas around the site. All in all, these findings can prove that Baan Don Chedi, Phanom Tuan District, Kanchanaburi was built by King Naresuan after got the victory over King Minyekyawswa in 1772.