Phra Prathom Chedi
Three centuries after the Buddha’s lifetime, under the Mauryan Emperor Ashoka, Buddhism spread to numerous countries in South and Southeast Asia via the land and the sea routes. The expansion of Buddhism led to the construction of a large number of religious sites, such as the Phra Patom Chedi, which is the oldest monument in Central Thailand. It was discovered in the 19th century by the future king Rama IV of Thailand, who built a Chedi over the old, ruined Stupa. The conservation of this Chedi, which is the biggest monument in Thailand, constitutes a very challenging task.
