Ayutthaya Overview Travel Guide

Jump to: Ayutthaya Overview Galleries

To visit one of the most grandiose and history filled locations in Thailand, you must travel to the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. Known as Ayutthaya for short, it served as the capital of Thailand for 417 years. It now lies 86 kilometers north of Bangkok, and serves as a home to some of the most spectacular and grand ruins. Sometimes Ayutthaya may be spelt a myriad of other ways including: Ayuthaya, Ayutaya, Ayuttaya, Ayothaya, Ayotaya, Ayudhya, and Ayodhya. [more]

Experience Ayutthaya's favorite sights as others see them. Let our visual picture tour of Ayutthaya help you choose the best places to visit in Ayutthaya:

Those 417 years, known collectively as the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, spanned 1350 to 1767. King U-Thong (also known as King Ramathibodi I) founded the Kingdom in 1350 when he wanted to escape small pox in Lop Buri. Upon founding the Kingdom, he also absorbed Sukhothai in 1376. The name Ayutthaya came from the birthplace of Rama in the Ramayana - the city of Ayodhya in India.

Over four centuries, the Kingdom (also known as Siam) went through 33 kings until it reached its apex in the middle of the 18th Century. Ayutthaya at this time had become one of the biggest cities in South East Asia. There were many proclamations from its various visitors - Dutch, English, Portuguese, Japanese and Chinese alike - about Ayutthaya's memorable beauty at this time.

The Kingdom of Ayutthaya, at its highest peak, had territory reaching far out past what now exists as Laos, Myanmar, and Cambodia. There were even diplomatic ties to France and Louis XIV. With three palaces, over 400 temples, and surrounded by three rivers, Ayutthaya created a magnificent and attractive development.

In its golden age of peace - the second quarter of the 18th Century - art, literature and education prospered and produced some of the traditions still alive today. Also during this time, there were foreign wars, but the greatest threat came from Burma. In 1765, the Kingdom became invaded by two Burmese armies that congregated down into Ayutthaya. A fifteen month siege, ending in 1767, saw Ayutthaya be conquered by the Burmese. Most of the city suffered total destruction and ruin.

It took King Taksin the Great to free the Kingdom a few years later, and he set up a new capital in Thon Buri.

What remains of Ayutthaya today comprises a magnificent set of crumbling ruins (including the original royal palace ruins), rows of headless gold Buddha, and the remnants of a previously thriving empire. History buffs will be in their element in Ayutthaya, with temples amazing even in their states of disrepair. The architecture of Ayutthaya tends to be a fusion of ancient Cambodia (Khmer) and early Sukhothai.

The ruins in the Ayutthaya Historical Park have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 13 December 1991. The city of Ayutthaya as it exists today has been re-established slightly east of the old city and makes up the capital of the entire Ayutthaya territory.

Ayutthaya today lies on the junction of three rivers - the Chao Phraya, the Lopburi, and the Pa Sak rivers. With the Klong Maung canal, the old city actually exists on an island. The city also lies on the north to south railway line that links Bangkok to Chiang Mai. In the Central Plains, Ayutthaya has the following cities along its borders: in the north lie Ang Thong and Lop Buri, Saraburi in the east, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom to the south, and Suphanburi in the west.

The climate in Ayutthaya exists typically as does central Thailand and Bangkok, with a hot season from March through to June, and the rainy season from June through to October. The rainy season makes up the prime time for monsoons which can be very uncomfortable for travellers. The cool season runs from November to February making these months the ideal time to visit. Peak months to travel include August, November, December, February, and March. January and July also make secondary peak months. To avoid the crowds, the monsoons, and to take advantage of lower rates, consider travelling in April or May.

The central island area of Ayutthaya makes the best location to place yourself in. Modern buildings and daily life mix in with the ruins and remnents of the ancient city. The surrounding bodies of water and flat terrain make for an interesting and exotic walking or bike riding environment. Or hire yourself a guide and leave the thinking to someone else - just hop in and out of your transport and allow your guide to take you to the best of the best ruins. Visit a store to keep your bottled water supplies topped up in the heat, and you're well on your way to an amazing travelling experience in Ayutthaya. Don't forget your cash to pay for all the entrance fees (small amounts, but you may visit quite a few in the one day) and other small items you'll need along the way. Be friendly, polite, and open to new experiences, and you will have an ancient experience of a lifetime.