Thailand - Ayutthaya 1 - Historical Park
Photo Gallery of Ayutthaya in Thailand, no.1.
Ayutthaya is 80 km north of Bangkok. It's the ancient capital of Ayutthaya kingdom (1351 - 1767).
Since the king U-Thong established the kingdom, Ayutthaya flourished for about four hundred years. However, it suffered catastrophic damage by the attack of Burma (Myanmar) in 1767and the kingdom came to an end.
(After Ayutthaya kingdom, times changed and the capital of Thailand moved to Thonburi then the current Rattanakosin.)
In seventeenth century, vermilion-seal certificate trade was very active between Thailand and Japan, and it's said that a lot of Japanese people, eight hundred to three thousand, lived in Ayutthaya including Nagamasa Yamada who is famous in Japanese history. (See Japanese town in Ayutthaya)
The Ayuttaya city is surrounded by Chao Phraya river (Menam Chao Phraya) and its branches. The old buildings were destroyed because of a lot of fights with Burma during the Ayutthaya period.
Ayutthaya （Historic City of Ayutthaya） has been registered as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1991, and you can see what the city looked like in the Ayutthaya Historical Park.
Ayutthaya is the first place I visited in Thailand except for Bangkok and one of my favorite places. Every time I go to Thailand, I want to visit there again. :)
You can't help but drop by there if you like history or love to enjoy old exotic atmosphere.
Ayutthaya is 80 km north of Bangkok. It's the ancient capital of Ayutthaya kingdom (1351 - 1767).
Since the king U-Thong established the kingdom, Ayutthaya flourished for about four hundred years. However, it suffered catastrophic damage by the attack of Burma (Myanmar) in 1767and the kingdom came to an end.(After Ayutthaya kingdom, times changed and the capital of Thailand moved to Thonburi then the current Rattanakosin.)
In seventeenth century, vermilion-seal certificate trade was very active between Thailand and Japan, and it's said that a lot of Japanese people, eight hundred to three thousand, lived in Ayutthaya including Nagamasa Yamada who is famous in Japanese history. (See Japanese town in Ayutthaya)
The Ayuttaya city is surrounded by Chao Phraya river (Menam Chao Phraya) and its branches. The old buildings were destroyed because of a lot of fights with Burma during the Ayutthaya period.
Ayutthaya （Historic City of Ayutthaya） has been registered as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1991, and you can see what the city looked like in the Ayutthaya Historical Park.
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| Ayutthaya City (Ayutthaya Historical Park) (The original file is from the Wikimedia Commons.) |
Ayuttaya on the map (80 km north of Bangkok) |
Ayutthaya is the first place I visited in Thailand except for Bangkok and one of my favorite places. Every time I go to Thailand, I want to visit there again. :)
You can't help but drop by there if you like history or love to enjoy old exotic atmosphere.
- Ayutthaya 2： Wat Yai Chai Mongkon, Japanese Town, Wat Phanan Choeng
- Ayutthaya 3： Bang Pa-In Palace, House in old days, Sala Pra Ming Kwan
[Ayutthaya] Historical Park |
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I visited Ayutthaya around four or five times by train, bus, or car.When I went there by train from Bangkok, it was a fun and relaxing trip on the way while feeling Thailand atmosphere. However, on the way back to Bangkok by train, there was no room in a normal car and I had to ride in a cargo car facing a lot of motorbikes. When I visited there by bus, I came back to Bangkok by kind of a big boat while enjoying scenery along the river. As well as old buildings, you can enjoy going around riding on an elephant with beautiful clothes on. Have fun in the old historic city of Ayutthaya. (Not so far from Bangkok also) |
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| You can enjoy going around riding on an elephant with beautiful clothes on in the historical park. | |||
[Ayutthaya Historical Park] Wat Mahathat |
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There are various views but this temple, Wat Mahathat, was built by King Boram Rachathrat around 1374, the third king of Ayutthaya kingdom, then completed around 1390. It looks like Wat Mahathat was a royal monastery and very important
in Ayutthaya period.There was a very high prang in Lopburi style, fifty meters, at the center of the building, however, it collapsed and you cannot see that anymore. Not only in this area but buildings are destroyed because of the fight with Burma and most of Buddha images have no head. This place is famous for the head of a Buddha image held in a tree after a long time. |
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| The view from around the entrance Some chedis and Buddha images with no head and only heads can be seen. |
Buddha image around the entrance This image has a head. Was it set after the fight ? |
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| The very famous Buddha image Only head held in a tree after a long time. |
Buddha images You'll see this kind of scenery. No head. |
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| Main hall ? 1 It shows a sign of a lot of columns. |
Main hall ? 2 Looks like a Buddha image was housed here. |
The Prang 1 There was a very high prang (chedi) in Lopburi style, fifty meters, at the center. |
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| The Prang 2 From another angle. It was a very high prang (chedi) in Lopburi style, fifty meters, at the center. |
Around the Prang 1 Around the prang. A lot of chedis. |
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| Around the Prang 2 The scenery from a little high place. |
Around the Prang 3 This shape is called "Lopburi style" ... |
Around the Prang 4 The view from the opposite side. |
Around the Prang 5 A bit small prangs, still big, though. |
[Ayutthaya Historical Park] Wat Phrasi Sanphet |
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Wat Phrasi Sanphet is the most important temple in the site of the Grand Palace of Ayutthaya.
This wat(temple) was constructed in 1448 in the era of King Boroma-Tri-Loka-Nat, on the premises of the royal palace.It was a royal temple of the Ayutthaya kingdom and important royal ceremonies were held. It served as the royal family's private chapel as well and the royal family's ashes were preserved here. They say that ashes of the three kings (*1) are preserved in the three stupas, the symbol of this temple in line east to west. *1) King Boroma-Tri-Loka-Nat, King Boroma-Rachathirat III, King Ramathibodi II） I hear that the main hall was situated on the east side of the stupas and there was a standing Buddha image there called " Phrasi Sanphet" that was covered by gold and about 16 meters high. This temple, Wat Phrasi Sanphet, was named after the Buddha image "Phrasi Sanphet". |
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| Entrance A lot of gift shops. :D |
Stupas (Chedis) The symbols of the temple, the three stupas in line east to west. |
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| Go up there ! You can go up a little and see the scenery like the picture above. |
Scenery around A lot of columns and broken buildings. |
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| Chedis This temple has a lot of chedis. They are very big, compared to visitors. |
Other scenery Other scenery in the site. |
Close-up Around the part of the entrance after going up the stairs. |
Leelawadee The flower you'll see often in Thailand. They bloom a lot here. |
[Ayutthaya Historical Park] Wat Ratcha Burana |
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The eighth king, King Boroma-Tri-Loka-Nat II, constructed this temple in 1424 for his two brothers who passed away fighting each other for the
next king. Very sad...
The main prang (chedi) is round-shaped and looks like it is in Khmer style.When it was restored in 1958, a lot of valuable things were discovered and they are now shown in the Chao Sam Phraya Museum. (I've not been there yet.) |
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The chapel from the main prang. |
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| Entrance Entrance with a triangle-shaped roof. |
Chapel After the entrance, you'll see a chapel and the main prang. |
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| Prang 1 The center of the main prang. Very beautiful building. |
Prang 2 From behind. |
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| Going up the stairs You can go up ! :D |
From the prang 1 You'll see other bell shaped chedis. |
From the prang 2 The scene looking down from the prang. The chapel can be seen over there. |
Decoration 1 Garuda (the king of birds) that can be seen in the Grand Palace in Bangkok, is carved. |
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| From the prang 3 From another angle. Chedis are here and there in the very wide space. |
Decoration 2 A standing Buddha statue is carved here. |
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[Ayutthaya Historical Park] Wat Mongkhon Bophit |
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The Buddha statue enshrined in this temple (Wat Mongkhon Bophit)
is called "Phra Mongkhon Bophit" and it is 12.45 meters high without the base and 9.55 meters wide. This Buddha image is one of the most largest bronze statues in Thailand.It's believed that the image was constructed between 1448 to 1602 A.D. in the early Ayutthaya period. Roughly speaking, the image was situated on the east side of the royal palace at first, then moved to west side or so and restored the head part or body part, and it's housed here now. |
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| Large Buddha image 12.45 meters high without the base and 9.55 meters wide |
Praying people People are praying in front of the Buddha image. |
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| Other images Only head images are housed as well. |
Explanation It explains that the head and the right arm were repaired in 1956. |
Donation A big ball with bank notes. Maybe it must be a donation. |
Bamboo works A kid was selling bamboo works (locusts or mantis ?) |
[Ayutthaya Historical Park] Wat Phra Ram |
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This temple, Wat Phra Ram, was built in 1369 A.D by King Ramaesuan
for the funeral ceremony of his father, King Uthong.There is a large pond called "Nong Sono" and you'll see tourists enjoy going around on elephants. |
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| Buddha image No head but enshrined in front of the prang. |
Atmosphere A lot of elephants with tourists on are walking. |
A lot of images A lot of Buddha images. |
Large pond Called Nong Sono. Relaxing. |
[Ayutthaya Historical Park] Royal Palace |
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Sadly, almost nothing is left about the royal palace of the Ayutthaya kingdom. However, you can see the Sanphet Prasat Palace (the principal palace in the early Ayutthaya period) which was rebuilt
in Ancient City (Samut-Prakarn) (*1).*1) Ancient City Located in Samut Prakan, about one hour from Bangkok. Unfortunately, when Ayutthaya fell to Burma in 1767 A.D., the stately palace was burnt to the ground. (The picture right shows the restored building.) |
- Ayutthaya 2： Wat Yai Chai Mongkon, Japanese Town, Wat Phanan Choeng
- Ayutthaya 3： Bang Pa-In Palace, House in old days, Sala Pra Ming Kwan
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