Elephant Kraal, Ayutthaya, Historic elephant enclosure in Suan Phrik, Thailand.
The Elephant Kraal is a historic compound with double walls where an outer brick structure and inner wooden pillars form a semicircular corral. The design allowed handlers to safely contain and manage the animals kept within.
The original enclosure stood near a temple but was moved to this location after Ayutthaya's first fall in 1569 by royal decree. This relocation reflected the kingdom's ongoing need for a secure facility to house captured animals.
The shrine at the center honors Ganesha and marks how closely elephants connect to Thai royal traditions and ceremonies. This spiritual focus shows how the animal was central to the kingdom's practices and beliefs.
The site sits about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) northeast of Ayutthaya city and is reached via Road 309 along the western bank of Lopburi River. Personal transport is recommended since public connections to the location are sparse.
This is the last remaining facility of its kind in Thailand and marks where the final formal capture occurred in 1893 for the Russian Czarevitch. The site preserves a rare chapter in the kingdom's relationship with these royal animals.
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