Page 84 - Experience Thailand and More

The ruins of three nearby probably royal temples have fared
much better. The remains of the first, Wat Viharn Thong, include
some broken columns and a stupa. The second, Wat Sri Su
Khot, has a very graceful, hemispherical stupa, while the third,
Wat Pho Thong, features the remnants of a great mahastupa
with enough still intact to let one imagine its once mighty size.

Then, there is the King Naresuan Shrine, where many still make
their way to pay homage to this great king, revered as a warrior
who defeated the Burmese and brought liberation once more
to the Thai kingdom. It is said he was born in this palace in
1555. After being captured by the Burmese as a young boy,
when a young prince, he escaped and led an army to defeat
the former invaders, and then ruled from here and Ayutthaya
between 1590 to 1605. In this very elegant Thai-style pavilion
stands a bronze statue of the king pouring water from a jug to
symbolize his gift of freedom.

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