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Ayuthaya-Old City, Bangkok

Temples of Ayutthaya - Bangkok
Temples of Ayutthaya
by Aquacraig
Ayuthaya-Old City tips and photos posted by real travelers and Bangkok locals.

Ayuthaya
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Ayuthaya-Old City: Ayuthaya, Old Siam Empire!
  • Tip Rating:
    • machomikemd
  • By machomikemd on July 23, 2007
  • Bangkok Page by machomikemd
    • Viharn Phra Mongkolbophit - Bangkok
    Viharn Phra Mongkolbophit
    by machomikemd, 4 more photos
    The city is located at the junction of the Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak rivers, and on the main north-south railway linking Chiang Mai to Bangkok. The old city is on an island formed by a bend of the Chao Phraya on the west and south sides, the Pa Sak on the east side and, on the northern side, the Klong Maung canal. Serving as the Thai capital for 417 years (1350 1767: Kingdom of Ayutthaya), it was once glorified as one of the biggest cities in Southeast Asia. During the 17th century Today, there are but groups of crumbling ruins and rows of headless Buddhas where once an empire thrived.

    The architecture of Ayutthaya is a fascinating mix of Khmer (ancient Cambodian style) and early Sukhothai style. Some cactus-shaped obelisks, called prangs, denote Khmer influence and look something like the famous towers of Angkor Wat. The more pointed stupas are ascribed to the Sukhothai influence. For new arrivals who had limited their visit to Bangkok, similarities may be noted with the riverside Wat Arun, an 18th-century structure that was built in the so-called Ayutthaya style, a melding of Sukhothai Buddhist influences and Hindu-inspired Khmer motifs.

    Ayuthaya's scattered temples and ruins have been declared a World Heritage Site. The forbidding list includes the 14th century Wat Phra Si Sanphet, the largest in Ayuthaya in its time, which once contained a 16m standing Buddha that was covered in 250 kg of gold. Unfortunately the Burmese conquerors felt obliged to melt it down. The 16th-century, fortress-like Wat Phra Meru escaped destruction in 1767 and boasts an impressive carved wooden ceiling, a splendid Ayuthaya-era 6m high crowned sitting Buddha, and a 1300-year-old green-stone Buddha from Ceylon, posed European-style in a chair. Wat Phra Chao Phanan Choeng was built in the early 14th century, possibly by Khmers, before Ayuthaya became the Siamese capital. It contains a highly revered 19m Buddha image from which the wat derives its name. A restored Elephant Kraal brings relief for those tired of temple-trudging

  • Phone: (0) 2-655-0676
  • Directions: Take a train from Bangkok, the train goes frequently. It is about 90km from Bangkok. daily bus service runs from Bangkok's Northern bus Terminal every 15 minutes from early morning until 7pm. Average journey time is 1― to 2 hours.
  • Website: http://www.thaitravel.info/Ayuthaya/
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    Ayuthaya-Old City: Splendour of the Old Capital
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    • Rachelynn
  • Updated By Rachelynn on December 20, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by Rachelynn
    • Historical and stunning ruins - Bangkok
    Historical and stunning ruins
    by Rachelynn
    If you have the money to spare, i would highly recommend you to join one of the river tour company by the Chao Phraya River, to go to Ayuttaya

    It cost me about 1600 Thai BAHT per pax, including buffet lunch on board of the cruise ( lunch was good) and return transfer from the hotel i'm staying.

    The cruise was very good as we saw the changes in scenery as boat went down from bangkok to Ayuttaya.

    You can also take a bus from bangkok to this old capital.

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  • Directions: Or Take a train from Bangkok, the train goes frequently. It is about 90km from Bangkok.
  • Website: http://www.thaitravel.info/Ayuthaya/
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    Ayuthaya-Old City: In Ayuthaya stop and feed the fish and turtles.
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    • stappm
  • By stappm on November 18, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by stappm
    • Ayuthaya-Old City - Bangkok
    by stappm
    If you arrive in Ayuthaya by long boat, the turtle sancuary is right there. Often times people bring stray animals or old pets to the Temples so they will not be destroyed. And here it is turtles, you can stop and buy bannanas to feed to them. It is quite a treat and the fish want in on it too.

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  • Directions: Ayuthaya Boat Dock
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    Ayuthaya-Old City: Ayuthaya
  • Tip Rating:
    • buffymaus
  • By buffymaus on May 5, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by buffymaus
    • Wat Phra Mahathat - Bangkok
    Wat Phra Mahathat
    by buffymaus
    Ayuthaya, an UNESCO world heritage site, is located 86 km north of Bangkok. So we went there for a day trip. We took the train ( I thought itīs the best and nicest way to get there). Itīs about an hour and a half. A tuk tuk driver took us to all the interesting places. The tuk tuk was quite "expensive" by Thailand-means, but he takes you to all the intersting spots. I realized that the area is too huge for walking (and also way to hot!!!)
    My favorite palces were Wat Phra Mahathat (Buddha head around which tree roots have grown) and Wat Ratburana (looks like a mini version of Angkor Wat)

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  • Directions: Take a train from Bangkok, the train goes frequently. It is about 90km from Bangkok.
  • Website: http://www.thaitravel.info/Ayuthaya/
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    Ayuthaya-Old City: Ayutthaya
  • Tip Rating:
    • Skibbe
  • Updated By Skibbe on January 27, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by Skibbe
    • Ruins of the old city - Bangkok
    Ruins of the old city
    by Skibbe
    Founded in 1351, it is estimated to have once been home to a million people. It was a major trade center until it was razed by the Burmese in 1767. It was beyond the point where they could rebuild it so the capitol was moved to a site that became Bangkok.

    There is a great layout of the city in the National Museum in Bangkok.

    Walking through the ruins was kind of a somber experience for me. Seeing a great city destroyed like this and now a tourist site gives you a feel the impermanence of everything.

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  • Directions: Take a train from Bangkok, the train goes frequently. It is about 90km from Bangkok. You can also book a bus tour at most Bangkok hotels. The return trip is by a three hour boat ride. My tour left aound 8 a.m. and returned by 5 p.m.
  • Website: http://www.thaitravel.info/Ayuthaya/
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    Ayuthaya-Old City: A must see, but not on a tour
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    • Snipernurse
  • By Snipernurse on May 25, 2008
  • Bangkok Page by Snipernurse
    • Ayuthaya-Old City - Bangkok
    by Snipernurse
    Ayuthaya is listed on many sites and books as a must see, so satisfy your urge, but please promise me you will not do so on a guided tour as I did, because my experience was very unsatisfying. First of all our tour guide, although nice, insisted on talking the whole time and he repeated EVERYTHING he said at least three times, I felt like I was in a twilight zone. Secondly we spent very little time in Ayutthaya and only visited a small amount of the temples, we saw none of the trees with carved faces and so on, it was mildly dissapointing. Afterwards we went to Bang Pa'in Palace, by far my least favorite tourist destination I have EVER BEEN!!!!! Basically the guided tour to Ayuthaya is one of my least favorite days traveling ever, right up there with the day I battled Montezuma's revenge in Montezuma, Costa Rica. GO and see it, but on your own accord, not on a tour!!!!!

  • Directions: Take a train from Bangkok, the train goes frequently. It is about 90km from Bangkok.
  • Website: http://www.thaitravel.info/Ayuthaya/
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    Ayuthaya-Old City: We Love Ya, Ayuthaya
  • Tip Rating:
    • Mattison
  • Updated By Mattison on August 4, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by Mattison
    • Aren't we gorgeous? - Bangkok
    Aren't we gorgeous?
    by Mattison
    We booked a tour through our hotel that took a tour bus to the Bang-Pa In Summer Palace and then to the ruins at Ayuthaya and returned to Bangkok via a cruise down the River of Kings, the Chao Phrya. The tour was okay - not our favorite because we prefer to travel at our own pace, and the tour guide was somewhat repetitive. (I think we heard that the Burmese destroyed the capital in 1767 a few too many times.) All in all, the tour was good with the definite highlight being the old ruins. One of the coolest things about the ruins at Ayuthaya is that there is basically no security around the ruins. You are trusted to respect these ruins. Gated areas and guards are unnecessary because problems that we have in America, like vandalism and graffitti would never happen here. Anyway, for any history buffs or tourists, the old ruins are definitely a must-see activity!

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  • Directions: Take a train from Bangkok, the train goes frequently. It is about 90km from Bangkok, take a tour like us, or hire a driver for the day.
  • Website: http://www.thaitravel.info/Ayuthaya/
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    Ayuthaya-Old City: Buddha's Reclining Everywhere
  • Tip Rating:
    • Pat&ZoAnn
  • Updated By Pat&ZoAnn on May 28, 2003
  • Bangkok Page by Pat&ZoAnn
    • Reclining Buddah II - Bangkok
    Reclining Buddah II
    by Pat&ZoAnn
    This buddha is in Ayathuya, and was being refurbished while we were there. Notice in the lower left corner, a group of people at a table, to give an idea of the scale of this guy.

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  • Directions: Take a train from Bangkok, the train goes frequently. It is about 90km from Bangkok.
  • Website: http://www.thaitravel.info/Ayuthaya/
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    Ayuthaya-Old City: Ayuthaya
  • Tip Rating:
    • aukjejetty
  • Updated By aukjejetty on January 5, 2004
  • Bangkok Page by aukjejetty
    • Stupa at Ayuthaya - Bangkok
    Stupa at Ayuthaya
    by aukjejetty
    Ayuthaya is a good daytrip from Bangkok. For example if you have to wait in Bangkok for a while and you dislike the city, you should spent a day in Ayuthaya, it is accesible by train.

    Ayuthaya used to be the capital of Thailand (from 1350 to 1767). And there are still remainders to see of that time, though a lot has been destroyed by the Burmese invasion of 1767.

    I have been here twice, and I really like it. It was also very quiet and peaceful here. There are some beautiful stupas and the Thai try to restore a lot of the structures.

    The best way to get around is to rent a bike which can be done everywhere around the old town.

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  • Directions: Take a train from Bangkok, the train goes frequently. It is about 90km from Bangkok.
  • Website: http://www.thaitravel.info/Ayuthaya/
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    Ayuthaya-Old City: Wat Phra Ram
  • Tip Rating:
    • syllybabe
  • Updated By syllybabe on February 16, 2003
  • Bangkok Page by syllybabe
    • Wat Phra Ram - Bangkok
    Wat Phra Ram
    by syllybabe
    This temple is next to a big pond with shady trees around it that made the walk around comfortable.
    We were dropped off by the car at Wat Phra Si Sanphet and realized how huge Ayutthaya was so we walked across the street and found a guy with a tuktuk in front of Wat Phra Ram who agreed to take us around to the temples that we wanted for 75baht each.
    Good thing we did because Ayutthaya is huge!

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