Ayutthaya Ancient Capital of Thailand
Ayutthaya , located 75km north of Bangkok, was once one of the largest and most ethnically diverse cities in the world, with a population of over one million people, but that was back in the 18th century. European visitors reported back on a city covered in gold, with a port to rival anything in Europe and the most beautiful and magnificent palaces they’d ever seen.
But that was before Burmese armies invaded the city in 1767 and pretty much destroyed it. Today you can still get an idea of just how grand Ayutthaya must have once been, but most of the famous structures are now just crumbling ruins. Ayutthaya is still considered globally significant and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Because it’s very close to Bangkok, it’s a popular side trip for many travellers to Thailand. The easiest way to get there is by train from Hualamphong, the main railway station in Bangkok. Trains leave about every hour or so between 7 am and 10 pm and take about 90 minutes to get to Ayutthaya. Cost is only 20B or so for a second class seat. There are no reservations and you just have to get aboard and hope you get a seat. When you get there, you need to take a short ferry trip from the railway station to the island itself. The ferry costs about 5B.
Once on the island, navigation is really easy as there is one main ring road that goes right around it and you can just follow that to see almost everything important. If you can be bothered to walk, there are bicycles available to rent for 30B or so and they come with a free map. If you’re feeling too lazy even for that, there are actually tuk-tuks that will cart you around the island, waiting for you at each stop, at a cost of about 300B per hour or 2000B for the whole day. They carry up to six people and the price is the same for 1 or 6. If you haggle hard you can get the price down a bit lower.
Ayutthaya is mainly about history and temples, so if you’re not big on either of those you might want to spend your money somewhere else.
There are seven or so main temples (wats) scattered around the island. The biggest is called Wat Phra Si Sanphet and was one part of the royal palace grounds, containing a solid gold 16m statue of the Bhudda. But that was pinched by the Burmese and melted down for jewellery.
There is still one big Bhudda statue in Ayutthaya (though not made of gold, sadly) which is housed right next door to Wat Phra Si Sanphet in the Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit. There are also lots of other smaller Bhuddas about, most of which have no heads.
In the south-east corner you’ll find the remains of the Phet Fortress, which once defended the island (though sadly not very well, it seems). You might see this as you get off the ferry from the railway station.
As well as the temples and palace ruins, there are three museums on the island where you can see what’s left of Ayutthaya’s former grandeur and wealth. The few remaining gold statues that escaped the Burmese invaders are now kept in Wat Phra Mahathat (look for the headless Bhuddas) and Wat Ratchaburana.
There are some renovations happening in Ayutthaya and a great example of these is the Phra Chedi Suriyothai, a stunning white and gold chedi built to honor a former queen of Thailand and carefully restored to its original beauty in the 1990s.
Off the island, there are some other wats worth visiting including Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Na Phra Mane.
There are also remains of old European trading settlements built by the Dutch and the Portuguese. There’s a replica of an old Japanese trading settlement too, but it’s hard to say if it’s authentic or not.
Because Ayutthaya holds such religious and cultural significance for the Thais, you must remember to dress appropriately when you go there. Cover up your arms and legs. Don’t mail the statues and don’t feed the stray dogs.
Get a map of Ayutthaya from Wikitravel.
It’s only open on weekends and public holidays from 10AM to 5.3oPM. I have heard it was closed down for a while due to the floods in this part of the country – hopefully it has re-opened by now.
The main attraction is a Water Theatre, said to be the only one of its kind in Thailand, featuring live performances of Thai folk tales and Sepaa musicals.
It gets a lot of good raves, especially for the pork dumplings, chicken pancakes, pork puffs and deep fried quail eggs.
Other places to visit in Ayutthaya district
Ayutthaya , located 75km north of Bangkok, was once one of the largest and most ethnically diverse cities in the world, with a population of over one million people, but that was back in the 18th century. European visitors reported back on a city covered in gold, with a port to rival anything in Europe and the most beautiful and magnificent palaces they’d ever seen.
But that was before Burmese armies invaded the city in 1767 and pretty much destroyed it. Today you can still get an idea of just how grand Ayutthaya must have once been, but most of the famous structures are now just crumbling ruins. Ayutthaya is still considered globally significant and is listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO.
Because it’s very close to Bangkok, it’s a popular side trip for many travellers to Thailand. The easiest way to get there is by train from Hualamphong, the main railway station in Bangkok. Trains leave about every hour or so between 7 am and 10 pm and take about 90 minutes to get to Ayutthaya. Cost is only 20B or so for a second class seat. There are no reservations and you just have to get aboard and hope you get a seat. When you get there, you need to take a short ferry trip from the railway station to the island itself. The ferry costs about 5B.
Once on the island, navigation is really easy as there is one main ring road that goes right around it and you can just follow that to see almost everything important. If you can be bothered to walk, there are bicycles available to rent for 30B or so and they come with a free map. If you’re feeling too lazy even for that, there are actually tuk-tuks that will cart you around the island, waiting for you at each stop, at a cost of about 300B per hour or 2000B for the whole day. They carry up to six people and the price is the same for 1 or 6. If you haggle hard you can get the price down a bit lower.
Ayutthaya is mainly about history and temples, so if you’re not big on either of those you might want to spend your money somewhere else.
There are seven or so main temples (wats) scattered around the island. The biggest is called Wat Phra Si Sanphet and was one part of the royal palace grounds, containing a solid gold 16m statue of the Bhudda. But that was pinched by the Burmese and melted down for jewellery.
There is still one big Bhudda statue in Ayutthaya (though not made of gold, sadly) which is housed right next door to Wat Phra Si Sanphet in the Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit. There are also lots of other smaller Bhuddas about, most of which have no heads.
In the south-east corner you’ll find the remains of the Phet Fortress, which once defended the island (though sadly not very well, it seems). You might see this as you get off the ferry from the railway station.
As well as the temples and palace ruins, there are three museums on the island where you can see what’s left of Ayutthaya’s former grandeur and wealth. The few remaining gold statues that escaped the Burmese invaders are now kept in Wat Phra Mahathat (look for the headless Bhuddas) and Wat Ratchaburana.
There are some renovations happening in Ayutthaya and a great example of these is the Phra Chedi Suriyothai, a stunning white and gold chedi built to honor a former queen of Thailand and carefully restored to its original beauty in the 1990s.
Off the island, there are some other wats worth visiting including Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Na Phra Mane.
There are also remains of old European trading settlements built by the Dutch and the Portuguese. There’s a replica of an old Japanese trading settlement too, but it’s hard to say if it’s authentic or not.
Because Ayutthaya holds such religious and cultural significance for the Thais, you must remember to dress appropriately when you go there. Cover up your arms and legs. Don’t mail the statues and don’t feed the stray dogs.
Get a map of Ayutthaya from Wikitravel.
Ayutthaya Floating Markets
There is a lesser known floating market in Ayutthaya called Klong Sabua which is more popular with Thai tourists than foreign travellers.It’s only open on weekends and public holidays from 10AM to 5.3oPM. I have heard it was closed down for a while due to the floods in this part of the country – hopefully it has re-opened by now.
The main attraction is a Water Theatre, said to be the only one of its kind in Thailand, featuring live performances of Thai folk tales and Sepaa musicals.
Ayutthaya Night Market
Now if you happen to stay overnight in Ayutthaya, there is a night market that has a variety of goods to buy and some pretty good street food and restaurants as well.It gets a lot of good raves, especially for the pork dumplings, chicken pancakes, pork puffs and deep fried quail eggs.
Other places to visit in Ayutthaya district
- Sukothai – also once the capital of Thailand and full of history to be explored.
- Lopburi – get mauled by monkeys (not really) among ancient ruins
- Bang Pa-In – see one of the strangest temples in Thailand
Source: bangkoktravelthailand.com
Tags: Ayutthaya Thailand, Ayutthaya Ancient Capital of Thailand, Thailand Tourist Places, Thailand Tourist Place Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya Thailand Attractions
Tags: Ayutthaya Thailand, Ayutthaya Ancient Capital of Thailand, Thailand Tourist Places, Thailand Tourist Place Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya Thailand Attractions
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