Ayutthaya - the city

04 May 2010

The ancient capital of Thailand, which for over 400 years was a powerful trading and cultural centre, is today perhaps a slightly forgotten but very romantic city. In Ayutthaya you will sense the spirit of the ancient kingdom.

Thailand | Statues of Buddha gazing at the ruins of the ancient kingdom (by robphoto )

Location

Ayutthaya is a city located in central Thailand, about 80 km north of Bangkok, surrounded by the confluence of a number of rivers, like the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak - hence it came to be called “Island City”. In the past the rivers formed a strategically-important natural moat, which also provided a natural irrigation system. So Ayutthaya is divided into two parts - the inner city, located on the island, and the outer city. The old town is located mostly in the inner section of Ayutthaya

The historic ruins in the city centre were listed in the UNESCO world heritage list, as Phra Nakhon Si Ajutthaja Historical Park, on 13 December 1991.

Thailand | Historic chedi in Ayutthaya (by Swami Stream)

History

The full name of the city is Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. For many centuries, between 1350 and 1767, Ayutthaya was the capital of Thailand. In the 16th Century, the city experienced its period of glory, being one of the largest and wealthiest city-states in Asia, and was even called the “Golden City”. Ayutthaya Kingdom comprised at that time large stretches of land that today belong to the countries neighbouring Thailand and was growing wealthy mainly through the trade between India and China but also by the export of rice, leather and ivory. Merchants from the whole of Asia, and also Middle East and Europe, reached Ayutthaya. Over 40 nationalities lived there at that time.

Ayutthaya was expanding very dynamically until the mid-18th Century, when it was invaded by the Burmese. In 1767, after a two-year siege, the Burmese troops captured the city and destroyed it, completely burning it to the ground. After these catastrophes Ayutthaya was never rebuilt and never regained its past glory.

Thailand | Ruins of the ancient capital at night (by roelschroeven )

Architecture

At present, the city is the capital of the province with the same name. The ruins of Ayutthaya are still immensely impressive and bear testimony to the ancient might of the kingdom. The architecture of the city is a fascinating combination of Khmer building style, with typically native local solutions. The Khmer influences are notably seen in numerous spires, the so-called prangs, shaped a little like cacti or corn cobs. In the city and its outskirts tourists can admire a wealth of gems of architecture, mainly the ruins of palaces and temples.

Get your bearings

At the Ayutthaya Railway Station or in Chao Phrom Market (across the Pa Sak river) for a very reasonable price you can rent a bicycle which will enable you to reach every corner of this moderately-sized city. If you’re not the active type you can rent a tuk-tuk - a motorised rickshaw. If you arrange to hire one driver for the whole day you should be able to negotiate a better price compared with paying separately for every section of your route.

At the very heart of Ayutthaya there is a small lake called Phra Ram, in a park with the same name, surrounded by some of the most important temples. Heading west from the lake, you will come across other historic building complexes, including Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and the Royal Palace. Other temples are scattered across the surrounding area.