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.