Queen Suriyothai Monument, Ayutthaya | Timings, History

Queen Suriyothai Monument, Ayutthaya Overview

The Queen Suriyothai Monument is a dedication to the royal consort of King Maha Chakkraphat. According to the stories, she gave up her life to protect her husband. It features a large elephant with the Queen on it, surrounded by his guards. Situated in the middle of a lake approximately six kilometers north of Ayutthaya, this is a rather popular recreational site for locals.

This beautiful monument of the royal queen Suriyothai of Ayutthaya kingdom is built in the memorial park outside this town. Set atop a sizeable gold-tinted base, the statue features a giant statue of the queen riding a war elephant with a team of soldiers at the elephant’s foot protecting her. As the park is quite spacious, the place won’t look overcrowded. Get a view of this magnificent monument during your visit to Ayutthaya.

History of Queen Suriyothai Monument

This monument is located inside the vast memorial park built in an area known as the Makham Yong
Plain. It is believed to be the site where Siamese queen Suriyothai was killed in a battle with the Burmese troop. When her husband, King Maha Chakkrapat was knocked down and was moments away from getting speared, queen Suriyothai stomped in front of him and got slain.

She dressed as a male warrior and fought with all her might before getting killed. Her story remained in the minds of the public for long. During a Thai nationalist campaign in the mid-20th century, she took the spotlight as a nationalistic symbol that Thai women could emulate. The construction of this monument began in the 1980s during the reign of Prime Minister Prem Tinsulanonda and was finally unveiled for the public in 1995. The memorial was created by Khaimuk Chuto, who was one of Her Majesty Queen Sirikit’s favourite Thai artists.

The original memorial also included four Burmese opponents in the battle on elephant back. However, these four war structures were later moved to a small park next to the Royal Elephant Kraal on the Phaniat Peninsula, where they can still be viewed today.

How To Reach Queen Suriyothai Monument

Queen Suriyothai Monument is located six km northwest of the city island near the Chao Phraya River. Take a right on Highway 347 if coming from Chedi Phu Khao Thong, which runs straight to the park entrance on the left after a few hundred metres. This park can also be reached from a small paved road paralleling the river.