Ayutthaya
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya "The Sacred City of Ayutthaya", founded in 1351, is an island embraced by three rivers, the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak. In the Golden Age which lasted 417 years, Ayutthaya was the historic capital of Thailand with more than one million inhabitants.
The Kingdom of Ayutthaya reached its apex in the 16th century when the Kingdom's territory was extended far beyond present-day Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar.
During the 17th century, foreign visitors, traders or diplomats alike, claimed Ayutthaya to be the most illustrious and glittering city that they had ever visited. That ended forever in 1767 when it was conquered by the Burmese and completely destroyed.
Today’s visitors to Ayutthaya, which is only 86 kilometers north of Bangkok, can marvel at its grandeur reflected through numerous magnificent structures and ruins concentrated in and around the city island. The temple compounds are still awe-inspiring even in disrepair and a visit here is memorable and a good beginning for those drawn to the relics of history.
The architecture of Ayutthaya is a fascinating mix of Khmer, or ancient Cambodian style, and early Sukhothai style.
Most importantly, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, an extensive historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Bang Pa-In temple and palace were originally built by Ayutthaya's King Prasat Thong in the 17th-century, then rebuilt by King Chulalongkorn in the late 1800s. The architectural style is Thai with strong European influences.
In the center of the small lake, Phra Thinang Aisawan Thippa-At, is one of the finest examples of classical Thai architecture to be found anywhere in Thailand.
Handicraft villages are abundant across the Ayutthaya province. Local communities produce a number of souvenir items ranging from stone carvings, wooden masks, ceramic goods, swords, daggers, drums and other musical instruments, and even Thai-style houses.
A long tailed boat tour of the island is a good way to see some of the less accessible ruins with stopovers at Wat Phutthaisawan, Wat Phanan Choeng and Wat Chai Wattnaram. |
Tour Details
One Day Tour Ayutthaya
Tour departs Bangkok 7:00 am
You have a choice of programs:
Program One:
- Bang Pa In Palace
- Ayutthaya Temples
Program Two:
- Ayutthaya Temples
- Long Tail Boat Ride around the island
Program Three:
- Ayutthaya Temples
- Aranyik sword village
Two Day Tour Ayutthaya
Day One:
Tour departs Bangkok at 7:00 am
Tour includes:
- Bang Pa In Palace
- Wat Mahathat
- Wat Lokayasutharam
- Wat Na Phra Mane
Day Two:
Enjoy a morning tour on the water.
- Long Tail Boat ride around the island
Afternoon visit to:
- Aranyik village renowned for their craftsmanship of Thai swords.
Late afternoon return to Bangkok.
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