Ayutthaya The Venice In The East

Ayutthaya The Venice In The East

To understand what to see and where to go in Ayutthaya, it is essential to understand the geography of the area. Consequently that needs to understand the significance of water, river and canals in Siamese living then and as later duplicated down south in Bangkok following the total demolition of Ayutthaya by the Burmese.

The ancient City of Ayutthaya is positioned on an Island surrounded by three rivers, The Lopburi River on the north side, The Pa Sak River on the east side and the Chao Phraya River on the west and south sides. From olden Mon times and even primitive settlements town were bordered by moats and earthen mounds, and later walls. Ayutthaya was the grandest water and walled protected system of its kind in South East Asia.

Water was not just a means of defense but also the means of transportation for domestic and international trade. Its site in Central Thailand provided river transport to all those cities on the Central Thailand and Northern Thailand river flows.

Wat Ratchaburana Ayutthaya

Wat Ratchaburana was constructed by The King Borom Ratchathirat II (Chao Sam Phraya). The temple located near Pa Than Bridge opposite Wat Mahathat, where both the King brothers died, killed each other, during a fight for the vacant throne of Ayutthaya. After both his brother had died, King Borom Ratchathirat II became the King of Ayutthaya. The king established a Wihan joint with the pagodas and promoted it to be monastery.  Wat Ratchaburana became recognized to the public some decades ago, and robbers broke into the vault in 1957.

Inside the main pagoda also displayed fresco paintings, representing the previous lives of the Buddha. Regrettably, over the last few years these images have deteriorated. Only very few visible images are left. A large quantity of the golden artifacts and treasures found at Wat Ratchaburana are displayed in the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum in Ayutthaya City.

This Tourist attraction is open every day from 8.00 a.m.-6.00 p.m. Admission fee is 50 baht.

Bang Pa-In Palace

Bang Pa-In Royal Palace also known as the Summer Palace, is a palace complex formerly used by the Thai kings. It is located A few miles down the Maenam Chao Phraya from Ayutthaya. The site was initially used by the royal court as a summer retreat in the 17th century, in accordance with a chronicle of Ayutthaya, King Prasat Thong (1629-1656). However, the Palace was shattered with the fall of Kingdom of Ayutthaya and was restored by King Rama IV in the mid-19th century. Inside the Beautiful Bang Pa-In Royal Palace, there are many interesting facilities include vast gardens and landscaping, Wehart Chamrunt (Heavenly Light), a Chinese-style royal palace and throne hall. Currently the Bang Pa-In palace is used infrequently by The Majesties King Bhumibol Adulyadej and Queen Sirikit as a residence and for holding receptions and banquets. Therefore, the palace remnants mainly open to visitors.

Open : Daily 08.00 - 17.00
Admission Fee : 100 Baht

Wat Phu Khao Thong

Wat Phu Khao Thong or Golden Mount Temple is located about two kilometers northwestern of Ayutthaya City Island. Main attraction on this sight is a huge white, and slightly wonky, chedi set in a big field. It was built in 1387 by the order of the King Ramesuan. Later, the king of Burmese, Burengnong, built three layers of the large superimposed base in the Burmese style, the 80m (260ft) called Chedi Wat Phu Khao Thong, which means Golden Mount after he seized Ayutthaya in 1569. This is one of the tallest pagodas in Ayutthaya. The main body of the Thai-style chedi was built later.

The statue of King Naresuan who declared Ayutthaya independence from the Burmese In 1584 after King Bhueng Noreng had died, is built a few hundred meters away in front of the Pagoda. The statue is quite impressive. On the four corners of the base, are images of the King’s important weapons. The nearby temple founded by King Ramesuanis still working and has small area with Buddha images in the ruins of a small viharn.

 

Wat Phra Ram Ayutthaya

Wat Phra Ram is a restored ruin placed in the Ayutthaya Historical Park. The temple situated close to the Grand Palace and Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. Next to the temple is a rather large park with a huge lake, called Beung Phra Ram, currently, the swamp is now planted with lotus and is very wonderful during the blooming season. Wat Phra Ram has been built in 1369 A.D. by King Ramesuen on the site where the remains of his father Ayutthayan monarch, the King of U-thong had been cremated. However, since King Ramesuen reigned only one year, he could not have completed the building. The Wat was either completed by King Boromaraja I or that king may have permitted others to complete it.

A large swamp lies in front of the temple. This swamp appears to have existed before the founding of the city and was called Nong Sano early on. The swamp may have been enlarged when earth was removed for leveling sites for the Royal Palace, Wat Phra Mahathat, Wat Rajaburana and Wat Phra Ram.

Wat Phra Men in Ayutthaya

Wat Na Phra Men is a significant place to visit. Wat Na Phra Men in Ayutthaya, the name of this temple means the temple in front of the majestic pyre, from time to time called Wat Na Phra Meru is positioned off Ayutthaya City Island, just opposite the formal Grand Palace in the northern area in Tha Wasukri district. Wat Na Phra Men was constructed in 1500s during the reign of King Ramathibodi. It also has been used as a Royal cremation spot. This temple is still very much in its original condition and was not destroyed by the Burmese. In fact the Burmese used the location from which to fire canon into the fortified City. In 1835 to1838 Wat Na Phra Men was repaired at some stage in the reign of Rama III of the Bangkok’s Chakry dynasty.
Attractions at Wat Na Phra Men
The Ordination Hall is a very major attraction. To the front the embossed gable with lacquer and glass mosaic depicts Vishnu mounted on Garuda. Both positioned above the head of the mythological Rahu. All of these are surrounded by some twenty six ‘’angels’’ imprinted in wood. Inside the hall is used to house Main Image of Buddha. The Buddha wears the Royal Attire, typical for the late era of Ayutthaya.
Viharn, the small but wonderfully proportioned Viharn houses a stone Buddha seated in European style, one of the best-preserved statues from the Dvaravati period.

Phra Chedi Sisuriyothai

Phra Chedi Sisuriyothai is a pagoda is situated at the original site of the Rear Palace, on the banks of the Chao Phraya River, in the west side of Ayutthaya city. The pagoda was built to Somdet Phra Sisuriyothai, the queen, who was the royal companion of Phra Mahachakkaraphat the King and the first heroine in Thai history. When the Burmese military intruded in 1548, Somdet Phra Suriyothai, dressed in a warrior's costume, intermittent the elephant back combating between the King and Phrachao Prae of Burma and was cut to death. Her death saved Ayutthaya from another assault from the Burmese. With her devotion, King Somdej Phra Mahajakrapat built a chedi (pagoda), called Phra Chedi Sisuriyothai at Sobswan Temple, Hualaem district in Ayutthaya, Thailand.

There is also a commemorative park to her just located outside of Ayutthaya, featuring a large statue of the queen riding a war elephant. Chedi Si Suriyothai consists of a sole bell-shaped chedi. Its bottom is square, and has a lot of cavernous corners. The Chedi has been gilded with gold paint from the relic compartment to the peak of its spire.

Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit Ayutthaya

Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit is a major tourist attraction in Ayutthaya, Thailand. This chapel is located to the south of Wat Phra Si Sanphet.  The main Buddha image inside the building is a very huge bronze cast Buddha image named Phra Mongkol Bopit. It was originally enshrined outside the Grand Palace to the east, previously sitting at Wat Chichiang intended to stand in the open air. It was later relocated to the present position and covered with a Mondop building. During the second fall of Ayutthaya, the building and the image were seriously damaged by fire. The building currently seen was refurbished but does not have as striking craftsmanship as the earlier ones. The present Viharn and Buddha image have been reconstructed and renovated. Next to the temple is a small market where you can buy some local craft and souvenir. The admission fee to the Viharn Phra Mongkol Bopit is 50 baht/person.

Wat Phanan Choeng in Ayutthaya

Wat Phanan Choeng in Ayutthaya

Wat Phanan Choeng is located on Bang Pa-In Road, just next to Pasak River. The temple is located south of Ayutthaya City on the east part of the Chao Phraya River (just about 2 kilomater from Ayutthaya city). Wat Phanan Choeng temple was constructed in 1324, just 26 years before of the Ayutthaya city was found as capital by The King Ramathibodi, first king of Ayutthaya. The main attraction in Wat Phanan Choeng is The Principle Buddha images, called Luang Phor To, an huge U-thong-style image of Buddha. The full name of the Buddha image is Phra Buddha Triratananayok and it is highly respected by Thais and Chinese descent. The Buddha image measures about 14 meters from knee to knee and 19 meters high (including the ornament above the head). Inside the temple buildings are a lot of old Buddha images and people attending worship normally have the yellow robes of the image changed as part of their merit making. Within the holy place there is also a is a small 18th century Chinese style shrine just next to the Pasak River keeping many Chinese god Images. The shrine was built to honor a Chinese Princess who drowned herself because of the king's infidelity. There are many stalls lining the big parking area where food and souvenirs can be purchased.

Open : Daily 08.30 - 17.00
Admission Fee : 20 Baht

Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre

Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre

Ayutthaya Historical Study is a national research organization exhibit about Ayutthaya history, particularly during the period when Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand during the period 1350-1767. The centre also supports an information service, and a library containing historical resources about Ayutthaya. The Study Centre is funded by the Japanese Government and dedicated to research into Ayutthaya’s history. It's a good idea to go to this centre before heading out elsewhere, as the Study Centre remains into a historical point of view. The exhibits are very remarkable and cover the growth of the city and the traditions of the area. Ayutthaya Historical Center is situated on Rochana Road, close to the local Tourism Authority of Thailand office.

The Ayuthaya Historical Study Center is open 9.00 am to 4.30 pm on weekdays except for Monday and Tuesday, and 9.00 am to 5.00 pm on Saturdays and Sundays

For more information, call +66 35 245-124. Admission Fees : 100 baht.

Wat Phra Mahathat in Ayutthaya

Wat Phra Mahathat (Temple of the Great Relics) is one of the most famous ancient temple in Ayutthaya located in the very center of the city. Wat Phra Mahathat was built in 1374 by King Borom Rachatirat to house the relic of the Buddha. Its current name was given during the reign of King Ramesuan (1388-1395). In about 1625 the top portion of the prang broke off and it was rebuilt in 1633. The reconstruction raised the prang to 44 meters and thence to 50 meters when a 6 meter metal spire was added. Later it collapsed again in 1911 so only the foundations of the main prang remains at present. In 1956, the Thailand Fine Arts Department excavated the middle area of the prang and recovered relics of the Buddha within a seven-layer reliquary.

Wat Phra Mahathat is classic of the Ayutthaya ruins: large collapsing stupas surrounded by low walls and rows of broken images of Buddha. This is also where the famous tree that has grown around a Buddha head is located.

Elephant Kraal Pavilion, Ayutthaya

Elephant Kraal Pavilion, Ayutthaya

The Pavilion, was the royal seat used to witness the elephant round up, is located in the north of Ayutthaya city island (4 km from the Ayutthaya city center). In the past wild elephants would be trained here to use become war or transport animals. It is thought that in the Ayutthaya period the stockade was inside the city wall, but this one was built later and was used up until the Bangkok period.



The structure is a big cage surrounded with logs. The Kraal is also surrounded by an earthen wall with bricks raised up to the pillar top. An elephant round-up was demonstrated here in 1890, during the reign of King Rama V, for the benefit of the Tsarevitch, who later became Nicholas II of Russia, during his visit to Siam.

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet, Ayutthaya

Wat Phra Sri San Phet is the main attraction in Ayutthaya located in a complex that has come to be known as the ‘Ayutthaya Ancient Palace’

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet temple was built in 1448 by the order of King Borommatrailokanat inside the old Ayutthaya Grand Palace area (at the southern part of the Royal Palace) as a royal temple used as the place for royal religious ceremonies, similar the Wat Phra Keaw Temple in Bangkok. The Ayutthaya Grand Palace was built by King U-Thong upon the founding of the city in 1350.



Wat Phra Sri Sanphet temple's layout is vary similar to Emerald Buddha Temple (Wat Phra Keaw) in Bangkok. due to the design of the temple inspired the design of the Emerald Buddha Temple in Bangkok.

In the temple, there are three Sri Lankan-style chedis, built during the 15th century to enshrine the ashes of three Ayutthaya kings.

In the temple located 16 meters in high of Standing Buddha Image called Phra Buddha Chao Sri Sanphet, once covered with 340 kg of gold. When the Burmese raided Ayutthaya in 1767. The gold that covered the Buddha image was stripped away and taken.



Another attraction inside the temple is Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit. This chapel is located to the south of the temple. A large bronze seated Buddha image (Phra Mongkhon Bophit) was originally enshrined outside the Grand Palace to the east. It could be dated to the 15th century. Later, King Songtham commanded it to be moved to the west, where it is currently enshrined and covered with a Mondop.The top of the Mondop was burnt down due to a thunderbolt. The King then commanded that a new building be built in the form of a big sanctuary (Maha Wihan) to cover the former one.

Wat phra Sri Samphet temple open daily from 08:00 to 17:30. Admission to Wat Phra Sri San Phet temple is 50 Baht.

Wat Yai Chai Mongkol, Ayutthaya

Wat Yai Chai Mongkol Temple is one of famous tourist spot in Ayutthaya. Wat Yai Chai Mongkol is located near the main Ayutthaya ruins on the Eastern side of the city not far away from the walls of Ayutthaya and Ayutthaya railway station.



Wat Yai Chai Mongkol was built in the the reign of the King U-Thong (Ayutthaya’s first ruler) in 1357, for the returned monks of a particularly strict order trained in Ceylon. The temple is also called Chao Phaya Thai Temple. The main attractions in this temple are the huge Chedi and big image of Reclining Buddha.

The main Chedi is surrounded by 4 smaller chedis. The Chedi in the temple was built in 1592 to celebrate King Naresuan the great’s single-handed defeat of the Burmese Crown Prince after an elephant back combat in the same year.

The image of Reclining Buddha was also built in the era of King Naresuan the Great as the meditation place for the king.

Similar to all the temples and palaces of Ayutthaya, the temple was raided by the Burmese when Ayutthaya was taken in 1767.



The temple is still functioning. there is a museum about King Nareusan of Autthaya inside the temple as well.




Wat Yai ChaiMongkol temple opens daily between 08:30 and 16:30. Admission fee is 20 Baht.

Ayutthaya City

Ayutthaya short name of "Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya", is an ancient capital of Thailand (Siam), located 80 km north of Bangkok. Ayutthaya city was Siam (Thailand) capital from 1350 to 1767. The ruins indicate that Ayutthaya city was one of the world's most wealthy cities in the 17th Century.




In face Ayutthaya is an island at the confluence of three rivers. (The Chao Phraya river, the Pa Sak river, and the Lopburi river) As the train station is at the east side off the island, most tourists will have to cross the river by ferry.
Ayutthaya has lots of interesting tourist places such as buhdist temples, Museums, Foreign Settlements, riverside restaurants, and market.