Ayutthaya – the Ancient Abandoned City of Old Thailand

Located just 80 km north of Bangkok, the ancient city of Ayutthaya is one of the most magnificent cities in Thailand. It was a former capital of Siam (Thailand) for over 416 years. But then, in April 1767, Burmese army burned Ayutthaya Kingdom to the ground and turned it into ruin. Today, the city of Ayutthaya is known as the UNESCO World Heritage Site, where you can admire the authentic Thai art, architecture and handcrafts.

The cultural heritage of Ayutthaya is located in the heart of the city. The old headless Buddha statues, Buddhist monasteries and archaeological ruins will take you back a few decades journey. It is home to over 400 temple monasteries and three palaces that have been restored after Burmese attack. The city of Ayutthaya is placed as a historical park, which is reachable on foot.

It is one of country’s most peaceful and spiritual places with the most estimable display of Siam history. There are places that stayed in my mind:

Wat Chai Watthanaram

The Wat Chai Watthanaram is a restored Buddhist temple at the left bank of Chao Phraya River. This peaceful place it’s one of most photographed sites in Ayutthaya. There is a Khmer- style central prang surrounded by ancient chides. There are lots of headless Buddha statues that still somehow lighting up and sitting in the peace. This is a sacred place that above all others, gave me deeper understanding of Thai history. You should try to reach the temple in the afternoon to watch the sunset. If you are willing to discover the real story of the city of Ayutthaya, this is a place to be.

Wat Mahathat

The famous Buddha Head in Tree Roots is one of the most memorable Buddha images in Thailand. Everybody wanders and asks, why the Buddha head is mysterious entwined within the roots of a tree? Nobody exactly can tell, how the head of Buddha has been located in banyan tree roots. Some people believe that during Burmese attack all heads have been chopped of Buddha statues. And, this one must have rolled down to the particular tree and set between the roots. Others believe, that a thief took this Buddha head from the temple but he couldn’t move his prey any further above the walls surrounded the temple. It is possible that he hid the Buddha head within the roots but he never returned.

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet

The Wat Phra Sri Sanphet temple is not only a significant historical site, but it’s also considered as the spiritual center. It was the Ayuttaya’s largest temple, which served to conduct royal ceremonies. A huge monastery contains three same sized and designed chides that are pretty much destroyed after the Burmese tragedy. Walking along the grounds, you can feel the greatness and grandness of this ancient temple.

Wat Mongkhon Bophit

The Wat Mongkhon Bophit is a small, local, ancient temple located just 500 meters to the south of Wat Phra Sri Sanphet. Here, is located the giant bronze Buddha image. It measures 9.5 meters wide and 12.5 meters high. The beauty and the size of the Phra Mongkhon Bophit intrigues both local pilgrims and foreign tourists.

Reclining Buddha, Wat Lokayasutharam

The giant reclining Buddha known as Phra Buddhasaiyart is 37 meters long and 8 meters high. The Buddha head rests on a lotus while legs and feet overlap squarely. The ground below the head is all covered by small squares of gold leaf used for merit making. The unbelievably large statue is made of brick covered with plaster. Local people in front of Buddha sell flowers and incenses to offer it to the image.

How to get to the city of Ayutthaya

Ayutthaya is a perfect one day trip from Bangkok. There are many options to reach the city of Ayutthaya and the most common are:

MINIBUS: The main stop is located in Mo Chit bus station. The bus works from 6am to 9pm and leaves every 15-30 minutes. The trip takes around 1 hours and costs $2.

TRAIN: If you want to travel like locals, you can take the State Railway of Thailand. All trains to Ayutthaya leave from Hua Lampong Raiway Station. There are different classes and of course different prices. If you are on a budget and want to be more adventurous, take the third class seat and pay only $0,50 for ride.

Most sights are located in the old city, so you can walk. However, there are few historical sites reachable by bike or tuk-tuk.

This glorious display of Siam history gave me an idea of its past splendor. Although, the archaeological ruins and temples have been restored, thus, you can feel the real sense of Ayutthaya’s hard history.

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