Phitsanulok Province:
Wat Chula Mani of Phitsanulok
Phitsanulok has always fascinated people historically. It is the birthplace of King Naresuan, the Great, who was the ruler of Ayutthaya from 1590 to 1605. |
It was King Naresuan who declared independence of Ayutthaya in 1584 from the Burmese, and he is a well-known figure in folklore for having won a single hand fight with the Crown Prince of Burma while being on an elephant’s back.
Phitsanulok played a major role in politics and strategy. It was one of the main recruitment centers for Ayutthaya when the kingdom needed warriors to fight against the Burmese. In addition, the province was considered the capital of Thailand during 1463 and 1487 when King Borom Trailokanat stayed here.
That would explain the numerous historical ruins that are present in the province waiting for visitors to explore. One such historical ruin is Wat Chula Mani, which is located a few kilometers south of Phitsanulok city. According to archeological evidence, this temple was built even before the Sukhothai kingdom started ruling this area.
Wat Chula Mani is located on the east bank of Nan River, about 5 kilometers from Phitsanulok town. It is estimated to be oldest temple in the town. The historical importance of this temple cannot be forgotten. It is believed that the site of the temple was the site of the original Phitsanulok town. It is said that King Borom Trailokanat came to this temple with over 2,000 followers in 1416 when he was ordained as a monk here.
The most popular structure of the temple is the mondop, which has the footprint of King Naresuan and an inscription stone, which was also built by him. The architecture of the temple shows a Khmer-style pagoda, which is built from laterite and is decorated by a swan.
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