Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam (now Thailand) from 1350 until 1767, when the city was brutally sacked by the Burmese.
Only ruins remain from this period of thriving trade and art but seeing some of the crumbling temples, it’s easy to imagine Ayutthaya’s past grandeur.
But as everywhere, there are so many places to go and see. One has to prioritise – especially on a day when it feels like 43 degrees …
Wat Maha That – was the seat of the supreme patriarch and the kingdom’s most important temple. The most photographed attraction is the sandstone Buddha head tangled within a bodhi tree’s entwined roots.
Wat Ratchaburana – famous for its prang (pagoda) with detailed carvings of lotus flowers and mythical creatures
After that we needed a break …
Even the dogs found it was far too hot to be bothered
Wat Phra Si Sanphet – built in the late 15th century, this was a royal temple inside palace grounds. Most impressive are the three wonderful stupas which are almost intact.
Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit – one of Thailand’s largest bronze Buddha images, dating to 1538. The golden Buddha is impressive in the new shrine that has been built in the 1920s – how much more impressive would it be seeing the statue in the original ruins?
Wandering around Ayutthaya, it’s not only about the past but also seeing some of the modern day city. Pretty rural in places … and most people we met have been absolutely lovely … only one persistent tuk tuk driver 😬
Ayutthaya – away from the tourist hot spots.Wat Lokaya Sutharam – 42m-long reclining Buddha, ostensibly dating back to the early Ayutthaya period. I just loved the emptiness of the place, not that the Buddha image wasn’t impressive
Wat Chai Wattanaram – most of the temples are inside ‘the Island’ (the central area of Ayutthaya surrounded by three rivers). This is the most impressive temple outside for its 35m high central prang
Despite the heat we found the ruins of Ayutthaya very impressive, even more than the real temples. The vastness and scale is just phenomenal and there is no bling or donation boxes to distract from the enormity
The Travels of Birgit 