Ayutthaya Historical Park

Inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991 as the Historic City of Ayutthaya (site 576). Founded around 1350 (some sources say 1351), it was the Siamese capital until the Burmese army destroyed it in 1767. The ruins stand on an island where the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak and Lopburi rivers meet. Key sites include Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana and Wat Chaiwatthanaram. Foreign visitors pay an entry fee at the main temple sites. Prices have changed over time, so check them locally.

Ayutthaya Historical Park protects the remains of the old capital of the Ayutthaya Kingdom in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, central Thailand. UNESCO describes the city as the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. It was founded around 1350 and was one of the region's main centres of trade and diplomacy until the Burmese destroyed it in 1767. Today the ruins share the island with a working provincial town, so roads, markets and homes sit between the ancient monuments.

The surviving structures are mostly brick and laterite. They include tall prang (reliquary towers), bell-shaped chedis, temple platforms and rows of damaged Buddha images. Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana sit in the World Heritage core zone near the centre of the island. Wat Mahathat is widely known for a stone Buddha head wrapped in tree roots. Wat Chaiwatthanaram stands on the riverbank in the buffer zone and is one of the most photographed sites, especially late in the day.

The ruins are spread over a wide area, and the inscribed property alone covers 289 hectares. Most visitors move between sites by bicycle, tuk-tuk or hired car rather than on foot. Many travellers come on a day trip from Bangkok, but there is enough to see for a longer stay, and the town has accommodation at a range of prices. There is limited shade among the ruins, so the heat around midday shapes how most people plan their visit.

When to go: The drier, cooler months from roughly November to February are generally the most comfortable, because the ruins have little shade and the hot season can be punishing in the middle of the day. Whatever the month, arriving early in the morning or visiting in the late afternoon avoids the strongest heat. Wat Chaiwatthanaram is a popular place to be around sunset.

Getting there: Ayutthaya lies roughly 60 to 80 km north of Bangkok, depending on the route. Trains from Bangkok run frequently and take around 1.5 hours. Some services use Hua Lamphong station and others use Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal, so check which station your train uses. Road transfers by car or minivan are common, and some operators run river cruises between Bangkok and Ayutthaya. The temples are spread out, so most visitors hire a bicycle, a tuk-tuk or a driver for the day.

The city was officially founded in the mid-14th century by King U Thong, who reigned as Ramathibodi I. UNESCO dates the founding to about 1350, while some histories give 1351. The site was settled before then, and older accounts describe an earlier settlement where the three rivers meet. Its island position gave the city natural protection and direct river access to the Gulf of Thailand. UNESCO also notes its hydraulic system as a distinctive feature of the city's planning.

Between the 14th and 18th centuries Ayutthaya grew into one of the largest cities in the world, with a population estimated at close to one million around 1700. Trading communities settled there, including Chinese, Japanese, Portuguese, Dutch and French merchants and envoys. Burmese forces captured the city in 1569. It was not sacked, but many valuable objects were removed, and the city later recovered as the capital.

In 1767 the Burmese army took and destroyed the city, ending its role as capital. The ruins were left largely unrestored until the Fine Arts Department began renovation work in 1969. The area was declared a historical park in 1976, and part of it was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991.

1. UNESCO World Heritage Centre · Historic City of Ayutthaya ↗
2. Wikipedia · Ayutthaya Historical Park ↗
3. Wikipedia · Ayutthaya (city) ↗
4. Ayutthaya Historical Research · Historical Park & Museum Fees ↗