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Ayutthaya
The Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya or Ayutthaya in short, is one of Thailand's historical and majestic highlights. Serving as the Thai capital for 417 years (1350 1767: Kingdom of Ayutthaya), it was once glorified as one of the biggest cities in Southeast Asia. During the 17th century, most foreign visitors to Ayutthaya, traders or diplomats alike, claimed Ayutthaya to be the most illustrious and glittering city that they had ever visited. The map of Ayutthaya published in 1691 by Simon de la Loubere in Du Royaume De Siam is proof of such recognition.
The Kingdom of Ayutthaya reached its apex in terms of sovereignty, military might, wealth, culture, and international commerce in the 16th century when the Kingdoms territory was extended far beyond present-day Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Ayutthaya even had diplomatic relations with Louis XIV of France and was courted by Dutch, Portuguese, English, Chinese and Japanese merchants.
Visitors can explore and appreciate Thai history in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, which is situated only 86 kilometers north of Bangkok. Visitors to Ayutthaya can marvel at its grandeur reflected through numerous magnificent structures and ruins concentrated in and around the city island surrounded by Maenam Chao Phraya, Maenam Pa Sak and Maenam Lopburi.
More importantly,Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, an extensive historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage list since 13 December, 1991.
The Past
The Kingdom of Ayutthaya was built and developed in leaps and bounds. The ruins in Ayutthaya that survived the test of time embody both the glorious and ignominious stories of the Kingdom.
This ancient capital of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350 by King U-Thong, had thirty three kings of different dynasties and reached its peak in the middle of the18th century. A magnificent city with three palaces and over 400 magnificent temples on an island threaded by canals Ayutthaya was truly an impressive city that attracted both Europeans and Asians. After a 15-month siege the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was conquered and completely destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. When King Taksin the Great finally liberated the Kingdom, a new dynasty was established and the capital was moved to Thonburi.
The seal of Ayutthaya depicts a conch on a pedestal tray placed in a small castle under a Mun tree. According to legend, King U-Thong, founder of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, discovered a beautiful conch buried in the ground being prepared for the establishment of the seat of his Kingdom. Consequently, he had a tiny castle built to house the shell. Hence, the provincial seal.
The Present
Today, there are but groups of crumbling ruins and rows of headless Buddhas where once an empire thrived. The temple compounds are still awe-inspiring even in disrepair and a visit here is memorable and a good beginning for those drawn to the relics of history.
The architecture of Ayutthaya is a fascinating mix of Khmer (ancient Cambodian style) and early Sukhothai style. Some cactus-shaped obelisks, called prangs, denote Khmer influence and look something like the famous towers of Angkor Wat. The more pointed stupas are ascribed to the Sukhothai influence. For new arrivals who had limited their visit to Bangkok, similarities may be noted with the riverside Wat Arun, an 18th-century structure that was built in the so-called Ayutthaya style, a melding of Sukhothai Buddhist influences and Hindu-inspired Khmer motifs.
Ayutthaya is administratively divided into 16 districts: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ban Phraek, Bang Ban, Bang Pahan, Bang Pa-in, Amphoe Bang Sai, Bang Sai, Lat Bua Luang, Maha Rat, Nakhon Luang, Phachi, Phak-Hai, Sena, Tha Rua, Uthai and Wang Noi.
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| Destinations in "Bang Pa In" district - Ayutthaya province - Thailand |
Bang Pa-in Summer Palace - Bang Pa In - Ayutthaya
A few miles down the Maenam Chao Phraya from Ayutthaya is the Bang Pa-In Summer Palace. The site was ....
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Phra Thinang Utthayan Phumisathian - Bang Pa In - Ayutthaya
This is a 2-story elaborately constructed building, which is tinted alternately in dark and light gr ....
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Wat Niwet Thamaprawat - Bang Pa In - Ayutthaya
This temple, which was built Rama V (Chulalongkorn), looks more like a Gothic Christian church than ....
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| Destinations in "Bang Sai" district - Ayutthaya province - Thailand |
Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Craft Centre - Bang Sai - Ayutthaya
The Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre, which covers an area of 285 rai of land (or 14 acre ....
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The Support Arts and Craft International Centre of Thailand (SACICT) - Bang Sai - Ayutthaya
The Support Arts and Craft International Centre of Thailand (SACICT) is located on the left bank of ....
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| Destinations in "Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya" district - Ayutthaya province - Thailand |
Ancient Forts and Fortresses - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
There are many forts along the city wall and fortresses around the outer circle. Most of them are si ....
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Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
This compound is located on Rochana Road and is a National Research Institute devoted to the study o ....
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Chankasem or Front Palace National Museum - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
Chankasem Palace was built during the reign of King Maha Thammaraja, the 17th King of the Kingdom of ....
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Chao Sam Phraya National Museum - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
This museum is perfect for history buffs who admire fine arts and handicraft of the Ayutthaya period ....
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Elephant Kraal Pavilion - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
The Pavilion, utilized as the royal seat to witness the elephant round up, is situated north of the ....
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Japanese Village - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
This ancient site is located 1.5 kilometres south of the Wat Phananchoeng in Tambon Ko Rein. There i ....
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Phom Phet (The Diamond Fort) - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
This fort that remains almost intact while ruins of the other forts which had been destroyed are vis ....
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Portuguese Village - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
This village is located in Tambon Samphao Lom, on the west bank of the Maenam Chao Phraya to the sou ....
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Suan Somdet - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
This is a public park situated on U-Thong Road to the southwest of the city. The area, full of plant ....
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Wat Chaiwatthanaram - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
Located on the bank of the Maenam Chao Phraya, to the west of the city island is Wat Chaiwatthanaram ....
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Wat Kasattrathirat Worawihan - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
Located outside the city island, opposite Chedi Phra Si Suriyothai, on the bank of the Chao Phraya R ....
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Wat Kudidao - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
Located to the east in front of the railway station, this old monastery was beautifully constructed ....
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Wat Lokkayasutha - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
This monastery is over a kilometer behind Wat Suanluangsopsawan adjacent to Wat Worachettharam. Acce ....
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Wat Na Phra Men - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
Formerly known as Wat Phra Merurachikaram, the temple is located across the river north of the palac ....
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Wat Phanan Choeng - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
Overlooking the river on the opposite bank from the main city, Wat Phanan Choeng was founded shortly ....
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Wat Ratburana - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
King Borom Rachathirat II (Chao Sam Phraya) built a temple on the site where his two elder brothers ....
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Wat Phu Khao Thong - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
The Phu Khao Thong chedi is situated about two kilometres northwest of the city island. It was built ....
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Wat Phutthaisawan - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
This monastery is located to the south of the river bank opposite the city island. Constructed in th ....
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Wat Samanakot - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
Located near Wat Kudidao, this temple was renovated by Chao Phraya Kosa (Lek) and Phraya Kosa (Pan) ....
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Wat Sensanaram - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
This ancient temple, which is located behind Chankasem Palace houses two Buddha images that were tra ....
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Wat Suan Luang Sopsawan - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
King Maha Chakkraphat commanded the construction of this monastery on the west of the city which is ....
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Wat Suwandararam Ratchaworawihan - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
The main attractions of this temple, which is located on U-Thong Road, southeast of the city, are th ....
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Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
Located to the Southeast of the island, this temples lofty chedi is visible from most of the town. T ....
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Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit - Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya - Ayutthaya
This chapel is located to the south of Wat Phra Si Sanphet. A large bronze seated Buddha image (Phra ....
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