Thailand
Central Thailand
+ Bangkok
Sights
* Bangkok's Canals and River
* Chinatown
* Erawan Shrine
* Jim Thompson's House
* National Museum
* Oriental Hotel
* Vimanmek Palace
* Wang Suan Phakkard
* Ayuthaya
* Ayuthaya Historical Park
* Bang Khu Wiang Floating Market
* Chanthaburi
* Dammoen Saduak Floating Market
* The Eastern Gulf Coast
* Erawan National Park
* Jeath War Museum
* Kanchanaburi
* Ko Chang
* Ko Samet
* Pattaya
Southern Thailand
+ Phuket
Northern Thailand
+ Chiang Mai
Isaan
+ Isaan
Walk/Drive
Food&Drink
In The Know
Did You Know?
( Do not miss )
In 1351 King Ramathibodi established his new capital at a former Khmer outpost on an island in the Chao Phraya River, symbolising both the permanent transfer of Siamese power from Sukhothai to the south and the decline of the Cambodian Empire. He called his new city Ayuthaya - in Sanskrit 'unassailable' - after the town of Ayodhya in India. For the next 416 years Ayuthaya was the capital of Siam, finally proving all too assailable when it was captured by Burmese armies in 1767.
The new Siamese leader, King Taksin, moved his capital to Thonburi, from where it was transferred to Bangkok after Taksin's execution in 1782. Many of the new buildings in Bangkok employed materials floated downstream by raft from the ruins of Ayuthaya but the once-splendid city still retains an aura of royalty and some remarkable historical monuments. It is easy to visit from Bangkok - a popular way to do so is by luxurious riverboat, dining
en route and stopping to visit King Chulalongkorn's palace at Bang Pa In.
An excellent way to gain an impression of the size and grandeur of Ayuthaya's majestic ruins is to rent a local long-tail boat and make a complete circuit of the island.
In the northeastern part of Ayuthaya, the Chan Kasem Palace National Museum displays Buddhist art and treasures. Built by King Maha Thammarat (1569-90) for his son, the palace was destroyed by the Burmese in 1767 but restored by King Mongkut in the mid-19th century.
Ayuthaya's largest museum, the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, is in the middle of town. The collection includes many of the best pieces to have survived the Burmese sack of Ayuthaya, especially Thai Buddhist sculpture and religious imagery. Books on Thai religious art and Ayuthaya history are for sale here.
Ayuthaya is packed with old temples, but Wat Mongkhon Bophit is rather special because of its huge, numinous black Buddha image. Cast in the 15th century, this unique work of art was for many years exposed to the elements, but since 1956 has been protected by a brick and stucco building. The effect of entering the building and looking up into the gilded eyes of the huge black Buddha figure can leave quite an impression.
Address: 86km north of Bangkok
Bus: Regular air-conditioned buses from Bangkok
Bang Pa In
Address: 20km south of AyuthayaHours: Daily 9-3
Accessible: Few
Admission: Moderate
Chan Kasem Palace National Museum
Address: Thanon U Thong, AyuthayaHours: Wed-Sun 9-12, 1-4
Restaurant: Chainam (Inexpensive)
Bus: Songthaew, tuk-tuk
Accessible: Few
Admission: Cheap
Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
Address: Thanon Rotchana, AyuthayaHours: Wed-Sun 9-4
Bus: Songthaew, tuk-tuk
Accessible: Few
Admission: Cheap
Wat Mongkhon Bophit
Address: Thanon Si Sanphet, AyuthayaHours: Daily 8-6:30
Bus: Songthaew, tuk-tuk
Accessible: Few
Admission: Moderate
| COUNTRY |
| Thailand
|
| Viewing |
| Top Ten |
| What To See |
| Where To ... |
| Practical Matters |
| REGION |
| CITIES |
| MAPS |
| World |
| Europe |
| TRAVEL BOOK |
| Book Info |
| Order Online |
 |