The town and former capital of the Tai State of Ayutthaya Thailand, approximately 65 miles (89 km) north of Bangkok, also spelled or called (Siam), in Centra Thailand, Ayudaha, Ayuttoya, in full Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya, and Ayuthaya. Ayutthaya Thailand was added to UNESCO‘s World Heritage list in 1991 and is the site of enormous temples and other buildings that are both historically and architecturally significant.
The town was established by Ramathibodi I on the rivers Chao Phraya, Lop Buri, and Pa Sak in 1350. This town is located on an island. It can be claimed that the modern State of Thailand has been one of the strongest in Southeast Asia, since its establishment, after the Kings of Ayutthaya spread their power. It has a territory spanning present-day Thailand except for the Far East and the Far North and is now South-East Myanmar (Burma) along the Bilauktaung and the Dawna ranges.
It has been thriving for over 400 years and at its greatest height, it has been recognized as the Krung Kao (the “ancient capital”). The troops of King Hsinbyushin in 1767, signaling the end of the monarchy, killed the bulk of the Ayutthayan buildings, art, and literature in a city bag. In Thon Buri on the Chao Phraya opposite modern-day Bangkok, a new Tai kingdom was established.
The city is crossed by plenty of waterways, and the water is crowded with houseboats and shop boats. There are plenty of pagodas and stunning spires. Wat Phra Si Sanphet, a monastery situated on the so-called Wang Luang (Old Palace), was used as the royal chapel with the Buddha picture once comprising approximately 375 kilos (170 kilograms) of gold. Also, Chantharakasem, located at the banks of the Pa Sac River, on the edge of the Kasem Front Palace, and the Wang Lang, on the site of the former Royal Garden, near the western part of the town wall are other Ayutthayan palaces.
The Chedi Si Suriyothai (Queen Suriyothai Memorial) is a monument to one of the world’s largest sitting images from the Buddhas, who died in the battle to rescue her husband. Ayutthaya has a massive elephant kraal, last seen in a royal guest pageant in 1903. There are several spectacular palaces in the surrounding historic towns of Bang Pa-In and Nakhon Luang. Ayutthaya Agricultural College’s modern city, quietly situated in the beautiful ruins of the capital, is connected by a bridge, trains, and the Bangkok river.
Many products, including cement, pulp and paper, electronics, synthetic fibers, and chemical products, are manufactured in the town. On the other hand, the main source of income is tourism. The population is 75,898, the smallest among the rest.
Come to Ayutthaya
Only a couple of hours north of Bangkok is Ayutthaya. Thankfully, it’s fast and convenient to get there. While you can make the Ayutthaya during a day trip from Bangkok (unsubscribed or organized), opt for a minimum of one night so you are not too eager to spend among the sights.
Train to Ayutthaya:
Paul Theroux had been correct — the only way to travel by rail is really, particularly Thailand. In like manner, only the nicest busses are battered. By drawing stars, you can not spread and walk about constantly. Any nightmarish traffic is absent in Bangkok. In the vicinity scenes normally darkened by tourists flash out the windows. Trains from Hualamphong Station in Bangkok often depart to Ayutthaya; the journey takes about two hours.
Ayutthaya by bus:
If there is no choice to fly by rail, Ayutthaya buses depart approximately every 20 minutes from Bangkok Moh Chit station (the northern bus terminal). The ride costs less than About $2 and is around two hours.
Thailand is an excellent location to drive a scooter if you have the nerves to join a scooter with two wheels. Yet also for non-enthusiasts Ayutthaya is ideal for bicycles. Otherwise, it’s easy and enjoyable to cycle between ruins. Albeit, the routes are also fairly good. Correspondingly, the renting of a bicycle helps you to spend longer in the key stops, and to travel less distance.
Ayutthaya is a geographically located defensible city-island at the confluence of three rivers. It is quite difficult to get lost, except for us experts. A moat of water on every side prevents you from ending up unattended in Chiang Mai if you turn around temporarily. Around the center of the island is the archeological park. The town is surrounded by a convenient ring road.
Tip: Many of the bike rentals look like they saw a fight. Some might even predate the war in Vietnam! Before going too far from the rental shop, a test that the tires do not wobble and the brakes operate.
If you want someone else to ride, two passengers would be able to be accommodated by the cyclos (three-wheel rickshaws and the driver behind). Before beginning your ride, you may have to agree with the driver for a specified period.
See Buddha 's iconic head
The Ayutthaya’s, a stone Buddha head put in live oak, is one of the most ice-cream pictures of Thailand. Within Wat Mahathat is the prominent flower.
Even though the Burmese destroyed the large temple, a Buddha ‘s head survived miraculously. The temple was deserted during the 100 years, its head was raised while a forest was rising around it. Instead of crushing it to Staub, the tree conformed carefully to the head.
The works started in 1374 to construct Wat Mahathat and were finished between 1388 and 1395. There are 50 baht entrances. The tree with the head of Buddha is very holy, although it is very photogenic for tourist tourists. Express strong faith by not turning your back for selfies with the tree against Buddha as you pass.
Note: There is a reason why most Ayutthayan Buddha statues are decapitated: private and institutional collectors.
Whilst a variety of leading universities and museums worldwide have done well to restore the plundered cultural relics of Thailand, others have fallen. There’s a fair possibility that your head Buddha can always wait in your beloved museum to return to Ayutthaya.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet is the biggest and most famous temple in Ayutthaya. In 1500, it once contained a five-foot-high Buddha cast, covered entirely with hundreds of kilos of gold. You might visualize that the Burmese settlers were first raided in 1767.
Once used for royal ceremonies, Wat Phra Si Sanphet contains royal family ashes. And there is a 50 baht fee for the entrances.
Check out the Royal Palace
At Wat Phra Si Sanphet, you can see the rest of the Royal Palace while there. An outline of its past grandeur will take the perspective of a scale-down layout of the palace inside the historical center.
King Ramathibodi I, who founded the Ayutthaya ruler in 1350, designed the Royal Palace. The palace was once surrounded by eight fortifications and 22 gates permitted citizens and elephants access. Very little constructions are left still untouched, but the past under the feet can still be noticed.
See the Older Than Ayutthaya Buddha Statue
Although the burnout of temples in Thailand will arrive quickly and suddenly after you have visited so many wats, you certainly must consider a Buddha image.
It is enough to drive away from most visitors from the island on the fast ferry ride to Wat Phanan Choeng, but Ayutthaya has only followed the temple for 26 years. No one knows who constructed the temple; it was restored by various kings. Inside the Buddha statue — known as Phra Chao Phanan-Choeng — dates from 1325 and is renowned in all of Thailand.
One of the oldest and largest is the golden Buddha image. The statue is a huge 62 feet high and over 46 feet wide, making it hard to photograph it as a whole, if not impossible. The statue cries tears when the Burmese burned the area, written chronicles say. For fortunate forecasts, Thai and Thai-Chinese are visiting Wat Phanan Choeng.
Once a thriving capital city, Ayutthaya was the world’s culinary influences. Traders came — and fed — from China, India, Persia, the Japanese, and Europe. There is, therefore, a greater variety of foods in Ayutthaya than other larger Thai cities.
In reality, boats – authentic ones anyway – have the proper name “boat noodles,” and they are maybe the signature dish in Ayutthaya. Look for long, slender samples, onboard steaming pots. It feels nice to extend the noodle range beyond just pad thai.
Usually, boat noodles in a swine broth are rice noodles. Toppings can differ, but portions are typically small and simple. Don’t feel embarrassed to order more than one bowl; typically patrons do.
Ayutthaya has its floating market if you have not got your fix in Bangkok. The Market can serve as a last resort distraction for visitors burned off in visiting temples, though a tourist trap. Indoors there are beer, boats for noodles, souvenir shops, and regular cultural activities.
Note: Unlike the original in Bangkok, this floating market was built with tourists in mind. Don’t expect an authentic experience. Rather than the standard Thai/Tourist dual pricing scheme, entrance fees are charged on a whim, reportedly based on appearance.
Towards that one unique Temple
The king of Burmese decided to build cannons pointing directly to the palace, Wat Naphrameru, located about 500 m north of the Royal Palace, off the island. Strong strategy; bad execution. Successful idea. To the satisfaction of the royal Ayutthaya people, one of the cannons exploded when the King of Burma was shot and killed.
Wat Naphrameru was not as destroyed, because he served as a future operative base for the Burmese Army. There is a rare Buddha (19 feet high) in the temple representing Buddha as Prince in worldly royal clothing before he reaches illumination. Throughout Thailand, these kinds of pictures are uncommon.
Last few words about this ancient city
Buddhism is however a religion founded on an order of monks who have ultimately no vested interest in kings and the gods and who hold the doctrine of transcendent merit. However, as local people do, they are very interested in the spirit world and the activities of astrology, even if they regard these things as subordinate to the ultimate Buddhist goal of universal nirvana. Therefore the Buddhist monasteries tended to spread around stupas (dome-pagoda or dagabas), symbolic monuments of Buddhist truth.
The preaching halls, libraries and residential areas of monks have been expanded constantly and reconstructed again and again, often as a testament to the piety of royal patrons.
All things considered, Ayutthaya has immersed us into the beginnings of Thailand and its natural beauty. If there is anything you would like us to share, please do not hesitate to let us know!