Ayuthaya Favorites

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Favorite thing: Kids are the same everywhere. Language is no barrier.
These school kids were having an outing to the ruins at Ayuthaya, but I think we were the attraction of the day! One little girl was fascinated by my camera and made sure she got herself in every shot I took, then giggled madly when she saw herself on the screen.
Not one of them spoke English but it didn't matter, we all enjoyed our few minutes of interaction.

Favorite thing: Ayutthaya was the capital of ancient Thailand (Siam) for 417 years, seen through the reigns of 33 kings and withstanding 23 invasions before its final sacking by the Myanmarese (formerly Burmese) in 1767 A.D..

After the sacking of the city, the capital was moved to Bangkok, ending Ayutthaya's role in Thailand politics.

It has been registered as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1981.

Favorite thing: Most of the smaller temples are free to wander around. All the parkland is definitely free for anyone to take a stroll.

The key sites do have a nominal fee, around 20 to 30 thai baht each. The Historical Study Centre costs a bit more at 100 baht.

To be fair, we didn't even notice that we lobbed out the odd 20 baht note every now and again. Often we got a small printed guide to where we were thrown in for the price. For the costs to maintain this heritage site I feel we were undercharged, yup you read that right.

There are no extra charges for cameras, or tripods or videos - and it is well worth bringing a tripod if you are thinking of staying after sunset.

Inside some of the (non-ruined) wats it is not correct behaviour to take photographs. The museums may ask you to leave your camera at the desk if you look a bit dodgy.

Favorite thing: Bright sun at middday will not only heat you up, it will also burn out the skies and details on your photographs.

If you can try early morning and late afternoon evening to wander the sites, the plays of light are far more interesting.

And it amazes me that so few people hang around for sunset, or an early nightime tour of the island when many of the sites are floodlit.

Leaving after 8pm for Bangkok may mean your driver gets a darkened road, but on reaching the Bangkok outskirts you will miss the early evening rush hour traffic.

Look out for sites with halogen floodlights, and return to them in the early evening. They will look beautiful

Favorite thing: Directions to the sites on individual tips do not really make much sense on a website such as this.

My recommendation for you is not to panic, select around half a dozen key sites you definitely want to see, note them down and seek them out on a map when you arrive. Then fill in other sites and experiences for the rest of the day as you stumble across them.

The Central Island of Ayuthaya is only six square kilometres and this is where the majority of the sites are. So if you are hiring a bike, or have your own driver you can criss cross the island many times, and if you don't go outside of the rivers you'll know where you are.

On the outer river banks there are the Golden Mountain, Elephant Kraal and so on. Easily accessible by bridges and good roads. So once you've done the interior, starting working outwards in concentric zones.

Maps are available at the Tourist Centre - right on the end of the road in from Bangkok, directly in front of you at the T junction. The best one is that which has cartoon illustrations of all the key sites, and you'll recognise most from your views of these tips. Free.

Favorite thing: Less people speak english in Ayuthaya compared to Bangkok. For asking direction, you may have problem because only tuk-tuk guys are more proficient in english, and they are more willing to drive you there then tell you how to get there.

Favorite thing: This isn't so much my fave thing about Auytthaya, but a good place to get information about the city and local attractions. Various maps and brochures are available from guest houses and hotels, but if you want more comprehensive information you can check out the the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office. This is located near the City Pilar Shrine.

Contact details:
108/22 Mu 4, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya. The phone number is (66 35) 246-076-7, and the fax number is (66 35) 246-078.

Favorite thing: Wat Na Phramen is the only temple that was not completely destroyed during the 1767 invasion and destruction of Ayutthaya. Burmese used the temple as their headquarter. Still in use today, it has retained its original, magnificent splendor since its construction in 1503.