It takes just an hour to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya, an extensive archaeological and UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of Thailand’s most important tourist attractions.
Founded in 1350, Ayutthaya was the second capital of Siam, now modern-day Thailand, and one of the best things to do in Bangkok. Because of its strategic location between India and China, Ayutthaya became the trading capital of Asia, and by 1700 it had become the largest and most splendid cosmopolitan city in the world, spread across 715 acres encompassing three palaces, 400 temples, and a population of one million.
The Burmese sacked Ayutthaya in 1767 and burned the city almost down to the ground. The wats (temples), towers, and palaces which were made out of stone, and the headless Buddhas and other statuary are all that remain, giving the grounds an ethereal atmosphere worthy of the lost kingdom.
Brief History of Ayutthaya
1351 A.D. – founded during the rule of King U-Thong, the ruler of Lopburi, and extended to the north in the middle of the 15th century. It grew as one of the wealthiest cities in Southeast Asia due to its location on an island where three rivers met.
In addition to its strategic defensive location, its river location was an important juncture of international trade.
The kings of successive generations added palaces and pavilions to the site.
1767 A.D. – sacked and razed by the Burmese leaving almost no buildings unscathed and ending the kingdom. 67 temples and museums were ruined and only four temples are still in use.
Exploring Ayutthaya is one of the best things to do in Bangkok. Here are five of the best temples in Ayutthaya.
5 Bang Pa In Palace
The stunning Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, also known as the Summer Palace, was constructed in 1632 by King Prasat Thong. The palace complex was used as a residence by many Thai kings and queens. Its location beside the Chao Phraya River made it a convenient and pleasant summer residence.
4 Wat Phra Si Sanphet
This spectacular and largest temple in Ayutthaya was built on the site of the original Royal Palace and is sometimes called the “Second Angkor Wat.”
It became the king’s main temple after it was built by King Boromatrailokanat in 1448 and was used for ceremonies. The temple took its name from the large gold-covered standing Buddha image erected there in 1503. The Buddha was smashed to pieces when the Burmese sacked the city.
What makes Wat Phra Si Sanphet so distinctive are the three large stupas in a line. The remains and ashes of three kings are kept there.
3 Wat Chai Watthanaram
Wat Chai Watthanaram is one of the most famous and photogenic temples in Ayutthaya, featuring a large central chedi atop a rectangular 115-foot high platform surrounded by four smaller pagodas
It was built by King Prasart Thong in 1630 in the Khmer style to honor his late mother. He chose this location because it was the site of her residence.
Only fragments remain of the Buddha statues that once populated the chedis and the outer walls of the temple.
2 Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon, built in 1357 by King U Thong the first ruler of the Ayutthaya Dynasty, is one of the oldest buildings in Ayutthaya.
The temple is best known for its impressive reclining Buddha built during the reign of the great King Naresuan (although the current version is a replica). A large chedi was built in 1592 to celebrate King Naresuan’s single-handed defeat of the then-Burmese crown prince in a duel on elephants. There are rows of Buddha statues surrounding the main pagoda.
It’s still an active temple, with monks living here.
1 Wat Phra Mahathat
Wat Phra Mahathat(Temple of the Great Relics) might be the most fascinating site in the historic park because of the epic Buddha head entwined in the roots of a banyan tree.
Located almost right in the center of Ayutthaya, there is more to see in this series of ruins that was once one of the city’s most important temples. Wat Mahathat was also the residence of the Supreme Patriarch of the Thai Buddhist monks. At the fall of Ayutthaya in 1767, the large temple was ransacked by the Burmese, leaving many crumbling Buddha statues in its wake.
Conclusion
Our day trip from Bangkok to Ayutthaya was one of the best days while visiting Bangkok! Strolling through the ruins, contemplating the history was fascinating.
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About the Author
Patti Morrow
is a freelance travel writer and founder of the award-winning international blog Luggage and Lipstick and the southern travel blog Gone to Carolinas. TripAdvisor called her one of the “20 Baby Boomer Travel Bloggers Having More Fun Than Millennials” and she was named one of the “Top 35 Travel Blogs” in the world.
She is also the star of the upcoming TV series “Destination Takeover” which is scheduled to premiere in the next few months.
Patti is the author of the book “Girls Go Solo: Tips for Women Traveling Alone,” and has over 150 bylines in 40 print and online publications, including The Huffington Post, International Living Magazine, Washington Post Sunday Travel, Travel Girl, Travel Play Live Magazine, and Ladies Home Journal. She has traveled extensively through six continents looking for fabulous destinations, exotic beaches, and adventure activities for her Baby Boomer tribe.
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