Ayutthaya Historical Park

Ayutthaya Historical Park encompasses the ruins of the former Siamese capital on an island formed by the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak, and Lopburi rivers, approximately 80 kilometres north of Bangkok in Ayutthaya Province. Founded in 1351 by King Uthong, Ayutthaya grew into one of the wealthiest and most cosmopolitan cities in Southeast Asia, with a population exceeding one million at its height and embassies from China, Japan, Persia, France, and the Netherlands. The city was razed by Burmese forces in 1767, and the ruins that survive today convey both the grandeur and the violence of that event. The historical park was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1991. Key sites within the park include Wat Mahathat, known for its iconic sandstone Buddha head entwined in bodhi tree roots; Wat Ratchaburana, with twin prangs and still-preserved underground crypt murals; Wat Phra Si Sanphet, once the grandest royal temple and the model for Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok; and Wat Chaiwatthanaram on the river bend, whose Khmer-influenced towers reflect dramatically in the surrounding moat at sunset. The park spans several kilometres and is best explored by bicycle, which can be rented near the train station or ferry crossing for around 60 baht per day. Admission to each temple is charged separately (50 baht per site for most) or via a day pass. Ayutthaya is typically visited as a day trip from Bangkok, reachable by train in 1.5 hours from Hua Lamphong station.