SUPHAN BURI

Suphan Buri is an ancient city mentioned in many Buddhist chronicles, although then supposedly named Suwanaphum. Today it's a very modern town with superb roads, courtesy of a local politician.

Because of its location, Suphan Buri featured regularly in fights with Burmese forces. Don Chedi outside the main town commemorates King Naresuan's victory over his Burmese counterpart in single combat on elephant back.

Wat Pa Lelai has a large Buddha shrine, housed inside a sanctuary built in the Ayutthaya style. Wat Mahathat, Wat Phra Rub and Wat Suwanaphum are also built in the Ayutthaya style and house rare artifacts, antiques and Buddha images, Wat Phra Rub has the only known Buddha footprint made of wood. In the south of the provinces Wat Phai Rong Wua houses the largest cast metal Buddha in the world at 26 metres tall.