Ayutthaya: The Ancient Capial Of Siam

One of the most charming places I visited during my three-week backpacking trip to Thailand was Ayutthaya. Sometimes neglected past times travellers caught betwixt northern Thailand amongst its world-famous street nutrient too  the glorious beaches of the south, Ayutthaya, the ancient uppercase of Siam, is ideally situated a dyad of hours past times develop from Bangkok too it did non experience crowded or overtly touristy at all. UNESCO-listed, atmospheric too quiet, it is the perfect retreat from chaotic too polluted Bangkok.

 A corner of Wat Mahatat inward Ayutthaya

Let me tell yous that to larn at that topographic point past times myself from Bangkok was the easiest affair inward the world: no hassles at all at the develop station, too the 3rd cast wagon is non every bit bad as it sounds: it's fifty-fifty funny, too super inexpensive (20 baht, roughly €0,50). People passed past times every 2 minutes selling snacks, piece older Thai men checked my ticket to brand sure I was on the correct train. There were many backpackers on the train, all waiting inward trepidation to visit these world-famous ruins. Once inward Ayutthaya, I walked straight, hence hopped on to a boat for a few baht to cross the river too inward no fourth dimension I was inward front end of  the ruins.

A Buddha statue inward Ayutthaya

 

Ayutthaya was founded inward 1350 too it was the uppercase of a kingdom that stretched all over Thailand. The town takes its hollo from Ayodhya, the mythical birthplace of the Hindu god Rama too the setting for the Hindu epic Ramayana, which Thai people call Ramakien. The metropolis prospered until it was sacked too burned to the Blue Planet past times the Burmese inward 1767. It was at this quest that the uppercase of Siam was moved farther south, inward Bangkok.  

 

A stupa inward Wat Phra Si Sanphet

 

The ruins inward Ayutthaya are within a historical park surrounded past times a moat, but at that topographic point are split upwardly entrance fees (50 baht, €1,30) for each chief temple. You'll before long laid out to orient yourself inward price of which ruins are on the isle too which are off the island. There are a few interesting ruins off the island, that is to nation exterior the park, for which it is advisable to hire your ain shipping (a bike, a motorcycle or a tuk-tuk ride are all fine). You could fifty-fifty hire an elephant, but concerns close the well-being powerfulness halt you.
 

Elephant ride inward Ayutthaya

 

 

The showtime temple I visited was Wat Mahatat. Most of the buildings in Ayutthaya only present the orange brick with which they were built, but the countless Buddha statues amongst offerings of flowers or nutrient on the side, the contrast amongst the dark-green grass too the full general atmosphere of repose too harmony of Wat Mahatat are unique. I noticed that most Buddha statues inward Ayutthaya were decapitated, in all probability a effect of the aforementioned sack, nonetheless roughly this temple at that topographic point were several intact ones, too they are inward beautiful surroundings.

 

One of the Buddha statues inward Wat Mahatat

 

 

This is also where yous tin find a tree amongst roots growing all roughly a Buddha caput that rolled downwards the balance of the trunk long ago. There is something mystical close this image: a human face upwardly deep inward meditation, amongst a peaceful expression, but swallowed - or mayhap alone caressed - past times the roots of a tree. 

 

The famous Buddha statue amongst roots all roughly it

 

 

I decided to slumber i nighttime inward Ayutthaya, hence I took my time to visit it without rushing or looking also much at the watch. It was an first-class decision. On the morning time of the 2nd 24-hour interval I went to Wat Chaiwatthanaram. Even though I regret non going at that topographic point for sunset amongst the eve boat tour, I had the temple almost completely to myself. Since it is located exterior of the island, most day-tours skip it. It's huge too spacious, amongst a considerable visual  impact, but it's non every bit onetime every bit yous powerfulness think. It was built inward the 17th century inward the Central Khmer style, inward trend at the time.

 

Wat Chaiwatthanaram

 

Another temple worth visiting is Wat Si Sanphet, amongst its famous three stupas (also called chedis), the typical bell-shaped structure of Buddhist temples. Its the most of import temple inward Ayutthaya, because it used to hold upwardly the violet residence. Monks, amongst their bright orangish tunics, are a fairly mutual sight inward Thailand, but they ever brand for swell pictures. 

 

 

 

Wat Ratchaburana was my 4th temple amidst those amongst an entrance fee. I works life this the to the lowest degree charming amidst the four, mayhap because role of it was beingness restored, or mayhap because past times directly I was a fighting templed-out.

 

Some of the statues that decorate Wat Ratchaburana

 

A dyad of things I didn't similar close Ayutthaya are the stray dogs that wonder roughly the house too the inexplicable absence of places to consume roughly the ruins.

 

Buddha heads inward Ratchaburana

 

 

Ayutthaya was i of the highlights of my trip to Thailand, too nonetheless I almost missed it. My initial innovation was to become to Sukhothai, farther north, too hence maybe become for a dyad of days to Siem Reap too see the amazing ruins of Angkor Wat. In the end, I skipped Sukhothai inward favour of the Loy Krathong festival inward Chiang Mai too I ended up cancelling Kingdom of Cambodia due to a lack of fourth dimension too organizaiton. Ayutthaya offered me what I wanted - amazing ruins too lots of history- at less hassle. If you're inward Thailand too you've ever dreamt of playing Indian Jones amidst the ruins, this is the house to go.

 

 

 

Share this post