Don Chedi Monument

This is located at Amphoe Don Chedi, 31 kilometres from the township area. The pagoda was constructed by the Royal Command of King Naresuan the Great to commemorate his victory against King Maha Uparacha of Burma in single-handed elephant back combat in 1592. A cast statue of King Naresuan the Great mounting the elephant's neck was placed in front of the pagoda.

Don Chedi Memorial - annual fair

This annual fair is held for 10 days to commemorate the historic event at Don Chedi in 1592 that led to the liberation of the kingdom from foreign occupation. The celebration commences on the 18th of January 2007, as 18th of January is regarded as the Royal Thai Armed Forces Day, with historical exhibitions and outdoor entertainment until 1st of February 2007.

Activities include a light and sound show of the elephant fight, a fair of both government and private organizations, and other stage performances.

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2012 up-date

Thai Armed Forces Day marked to Commemorate the Greatest Victory by King Naresuan the Great
January 18 is marked as the Armed Forces Day in Thailand, commemorating the most glorious battle on elephant back with King Naresuan the Great emerging the proud victor in 1592.

The day was originally marked on January 25 by virtue of an announcement of the Prime Minister’s Office dated 13 June 1980, designating the day as the Armed Forces Day and the founding anniversary of the Ministry of Defense. Several historians later disputed the theory, reasoning that the day of King Naresuan the Great’s battle on elephant back was in fact on 18 January 1532. The argument was accepted and another announcement of the Prime Minister’s Office was issued on 23 August 2006, changing the commemorative day to January 18.

King Naresuan was undoubtedly the greatest warrior the Thai Kingdom had ever known, and the battle on elephant back was regarded as the most glorious royal battle in the days of hand-to-hand fighting.

As a young prince, Naresuan or Naret was taken as hostage at the court of King Bayinnuang of Burma who appointed his father King Thammaraja of the vassal state of Ayutthaya. The Prince grew up in Burma and became well acquainted with Burmese ways. When he was 16 years old, King Thammaraja , asked that his son be returned to Siam. He was appointed the Governor of Phitsanulok, the former position of his father. King Bayinnuang died in 1581 and was succeeded by his son Nandabayin. At the new king’s coronation, Prince Naresuan attended as representative of Ayutthaya. During this visit, he showed his war skills in putting down a revolt against Pegu at Moung Kang which stirred jealousy and suspicion from King Nandabayin and his son, the Crown Prince.

At another push against the Mons in Ava in 1584, King Nandabayin secretly arranged for Prince Naresuan’s army to be attacked from the rear and the Prince killed. However, the Mon people were more sympathetic towards Prince Naresuan, and forewarned him of King Nandabayin's assassination plot. The Prince called his army and the townsfolk together and, before them, swore at the Mon town of Muong Krang that he would no longer serve under the Burmese and declared independence for the Kingdom of Ayutthaya. He then marched on Pegu and freed the Thai people who had been held hostage before setting off for Ayutthaya, with over 10,000 Thais, with Burmese Crown Prince's army in close pursuit. Prince Naresuan managed to cross the Sittaung River before the Crown Prince's forces arrived on the far bank. He sighted the commanding general across the river and drew his long-gun and fired. The Burmese Commanding General fell dead where upon the Burmese troops gave up the chase and retreated back to Pegu. Prince Naresuan , with his freed Thais, returned safely to Ayutthaya.

During the Burmese King Nandabayin’s reign, huge Burmese armies advanced five times on Ayutthaya and were all repelled by Prince Naresuan’s forces. In 1590, King Thammaraja died and the Prince ascended the throne as King Naresuan.

In the fifth Burmese advance on Ayutthaya, King Naresuan and his younger brother Prince Ekatosrost, went out to counter the Burmese at Nongsarai with a small, expeditionary force sent to engage the enemy and lure them into the trap where King Naresuan and his army laid waiting. King Naresuan immediately challenged the Burmese Crown Prince to a fight on elephant back. He cut down the opponent with his long weapon.

A large pagoda was built during King Naresuan's lifetime to commemorate this glorious battle which deterred the Burmese invasions for years and years. It lay abandoned until 1913 when it was rediscovered by the great historian, Prince Damrong Rajanubhab. The pagoda was reconstructed in 1952, with a statue of King Naresuan on his elephant cast by Professor Silpa Birasri added in 1959. The area was originally part of Si Prachan district. It was established as a sub-district in 1962, consisting of the two tambon Don Chedi and Nong Sarai and was upgraded to a full district in 1965.

Apart from the functions marking the Armed Forces Day, the Don Chedi Fair takes place at the site every year, with a reenactment of the famous elephant battle that took place four centuries ago.