Ayutthaya Historical Park is one of the UNESCO World Heritage site and earlier capital of Thailand . This city was established in the year 1351 by the king Ramthibodi I . In this place there are lots of temples which were build between the 14 th century and 18 th century . In the later half of the 18 th century Burma occupied this land and the capital was shifted to Bangkok .
Famous temple in Ayutthaya Historical Park :
Wat Maha that :
Wat Mahathat is the oldest and most famous among the ayutthaya temple . This temple was build by the King Borom Rachathirat 1 . In the temple complex there is a headless Buddha , a pranga(It is a tower like religious building ) and a buddha’s face entwined inside a tree .
Entry price for this temple is 50 THB . It is opened from the 8 AM – 5 PM .
Wat Mahaeyong :
Wat Mahaeyong is a temple build in the year 1438 by the king Borommarachathirat II and restored by Thai sa in the year 1711 .
Major building in this area is the chedi and the ordination hall . The chedi is surrounded by lots of elephants all around it .
Wat Yai chai Mongkhon :
Wat Yai chai Mongkon is a Buddhist temple build in the year 1357 by the first ruler of Ayutthaya King U Thong located outside of the city wall of the capital .
This was mainly occupied by the sri Lankan Buddhist monks at that time and was named Wat Pa Keo and the current name was given in the 16 th century .
This chedi also symbolizes the victory of King Naraesuan over his enemy . After the victory on King Phra Maha Upracha of Burma he made this chedi to commemorate the victory .
Buddha’s Head in tree Root :
Inside the Wat Mahathat complex there is a buddha’s head surrounded by the roots of the the bodhi tree . This is the most visited place inside the Ayutthaya Historical Park .
People believed it to be most sacred and worshipped it . People don’t touch it and see from a distance .
Wat Phra si sanphet :
Wat phra si Sanphet is actually a Royal Chapel . In this place there is actually three stupas where the ashes of king Boroma -tri-loka-nath , Rachathirat III and Ramathibodi II are preserved .
This temple has been build by the king Boroma – tri- loka – nath in the year 1448 . This is a Royal temple of the Ayutthaya king used specifically for the religious ceremony .
Wat Ratchaburna :
Wat Ratchaburna was constructed in the year 1424 by the king Borom Racha thirat II . Inside the pranga there was processions of devatas , chines kings and warriors.
It is also the place where the bodies of the kings were cremated . There is a main pranga and surrounding small prangs scattered around this complex .
Wat Chaiwatthanaram :
Wat Chiwatthanaram is a temple inside the forest established in the 17 th century . It is used by the monks mainly for the meditation .
There is a main pranga in the middle and four pranga in the four sides of the main pranga . This is one of the finest temple in the Ayutthaya Historical Park .
Baan Hollanda :
Baan Hollanda is a Museum maintained by the Dutch government . This museum is mainly an exhibition which tells the business ties of Dutch people with the thai Monarchy and history of their trade business in this area .
This was a river post at that time and the goods coming in this region directly through the boats from Europe .
It is opened from 9 AM – 4 PM . Entry ticket price is 50 THB .
Japanes settlement :
This village has been build between the 17 th to 18 th century . All together 1000 – 1500 Japanese lived in this enclaves .
How to Reach Ayutthaya :
From Bangkok to Ayutthaya it is 80 km by train . There are multiple trains from both the Krung Thep and Hua Lumpong station toward Ayutthaya station . I mostly traveled from the Hua Lumpong station(as this is situated in the middle of the city ) at 9:25 train toward Pithsanulok . It takes 2 hour to reach Ayutthaya .
Also you can reach Ayutthaya by the bus or the Mini Van from the Mo Chit Bus terminal or Rangsit Bus terminal . It may be much quicker but the train option is more comfortable .
Summary :
Ayutthaya Historical Park is a archeological city which is mainly situated in a island surrounded by three rivers and a UNESCO World Heritage city . It was the capital of Thiland from the 14 th century to 18 th century and traded by holland Japanes and chines . After Ayutthaya fall under the hand of the Burma the capital of Thiland shifted toward Bangkok .
