My Visual Travel Experience: Ayutthaya

My wife, my one year old son, my wife's family, and I spent around 10 days in Thailand in 2015. We largely spent time in Bangkok and Phuket, but we also managed to spend a day in the town of Ayutthaya, a historical town just an hour outside Bangkok. We stayed in a lovely hotel called Ban Thai House, with its traditional Thai architecture.

The city of Ayutthaya was founded by King Ramathibodi I in 1350. It was the capital of the country till the Burmese attacked and destroyed it in 1767. In 1969, a concerted effort was made to renovate the ruins, and it was declared a historical park in 1976, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991. During its 4 centuries as the country’s capital, Ayutthaya had 35 rulers.

Today, the town of Ayutthaya has a population of about 55,000. Many of the old temples are in ruins, but they speak of the town’s glorious past. At the peak of its glory in the early 18th century, Ayutthaya supposedly had a population of almost 1,000,000, which made it one of the world’s biggest cities of the time.

Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is a monastery constructed by King U-Thong for monks. A chedi was constructed later by King Naresuan  to commemorate his victory over the king of Burma. The wat is one of Ayutthaya’s best maintained temples, and is striking because of the long row of meditating Buddha statues along the walls.

Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Main Shrine, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Row of Buddha Statues, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Buddha Statue,
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Reclining Buddha, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

Wat Mahathat used to be one of Ayutthaya’s most important temples. It was built by King Borom Rachathirat between 1370 and 1388. It served as the royal temple for centuries. Today most of the temple lies in ruins.

Wat Mahathat

Buddha Head in a Banyan Tree, Wat Mahathat

Buddha Statue,
Wat Mahathat

Buddha Statue among the ruins, Wat Mahathat

Buddha Head, Wat Mahathat

Wat Chai Watthanaram is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The temple was constructed in 1630 by King Prasat Thong, and was designed in Khmer style. The central prang is 35 meters tall, and there are four smaller prangs. The central platform is surrounded by eight chedi shaped chapels. Along the walls, there are many sitting Buddha statues.  

Wat Chai Watthanaram

Main Shrine,
Wat Chai Watthanaram

Wat Phra Si Sanphet was Ayutthaya’s grandest temple till the Burmese invasion in 1767. In 1350, U-Thong (later known as King Ramathibodi I) built a royal palace at this venue. Subsequently, Ayutthaya was established as the capital of his kingdom. In 1492, two chedis were built, where the ashes of the father and brother of King Ramathibodi II were buried. In 1592, a third chedi was built.

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Central Chedi,
Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit has a massive bronze Buddha statue, which is 9.5 meters wide and 12.5 meters high, without the base The statue dates back to the 16th century AD. In 1767, the wihan was destroyed by Burmese invaders and the statue was badly damaged.  In 1956, the statue was repaired and the wihan was rebuilt.

Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit

Wat Lokaya Sutharam is famous for its 42 meter long Reclining Buddha. The statue is usually wrapped in bright orange cloth, and has an altar in front where one can make offerings.

Wat Lokaya Sutharam

Besides its many temples, Ayutthaya also has other attractions for visitors. It has a bustling waterside floating market, ideal for souvenir shoppers. It also has an elephant centre, where one can see elephants and go on rides sitting on them.

Floating Market

Elephant Centre

Ban Thai House

In a place like Ayutthaya, one needs to prioritise and see the main temples. If one were to attempt seeing all the temples, one would go dizzy, given the sheer numbers. We managed to pack in all the main temples, and it was a very satisfying visit. Given the relatively small size of the town, it was also a welcome break from the crowded hustle and bustle of Bangkok life!