Ramakien is a Thai adaptation of the Ramayana, a popular and classic Hindu folk tale about Rama, the heir to the crown of Ayodhya, the eldest son of King Dasharathaand, the seventh avatar of the god Vishnu. Rama is forced into a 14 years exile by one his father’s wives. The story is epic. It describes the life of Rama before his exile, features his wife, his allies, his younger brothers and his opponents, including the demon-king Ravana, one of his arch enemies whom has to be defeated in war.
Although of Hindu origin, Ramayana is popular throughout Asia and has been an important story to Buddhists. The Ramakien is the Thai version of this popular story adapted under the supervision of several Thai kings. Parts of the Ramakien have been destroyed and repainted. The Ramakien has been part of Thai's national culture for thousands of years, and its main characters are meant to depict the origins of ancient Thai kings.