IS AYUTTHAYA, THE ANCIENT CAPITAL OF THAILAND, WORTH A VISIT?
It was not in my plans to visit Ayutthaya on my first visit to Thailand, back in 2008. I had never heard of it and all I wanted during my first visit to Thailand was to explore the most popular Thai beaches and learn to scuba dive. In fact I got so fond of scuba diving that I did my Open Water course and Advanced Open Water course with no dives in between.
But after so much getting wet and riding motorbikes I decided to do some day trips from Bangkok the last days before my departure. There are plenty of cool places where to stay in Bangkok so I decided to base myself there and enjoy the nice restaurants and live music venues in the evening. Check out this 24 hours Bangkok itinerary.
In fact I got completely hooked when I saw a picture of Buddha image inside a tree. It looked something so out of the extraordinary to me, at that time, and got so curious about this ancient city.
Yes, Ayutthaya was the ancient capital of Thailand and believe or not Ayutthaya was also the biggest city in the world around the year the early 1700s and it was founded in 1350. It was home to more than one million people and 4000 elephants.
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya or just Ayutthaya was the capital of the Ayutthaya kingdom, the former Kingdom of Thailand and it became one of the most important centers for commerce and diplomacy.
Ayutthaya was attacked and demolished by Burmese army in 1767 who burnt the city and forced its people to leave. The city was never re built in the same location and its remains are today and world UNESCO heritage archeological site.
The majestic ruins of tall prangs (reliquiary towers) and temples give a clue of the city past splendor.
Ayutthaya was the first archeological site I visited in Asia and it left a very strong impression on me. I remember wanting to meditate as I would observe the Buddha images and my imagination went wild seeing and hearing the thousands of prayers and ceremonies that might have occurred there.
Is Ayutthaya worth a visit?
Yes, in my opinion, Ayutthaya is really worth a visit. It will help you get immersed in the historical past and customs of the Thai culture while you visit this beautiful country.
But of course it depends on the kind of traveler you are. If you like to get in touch with the historical perspective of the place you visit and admire architectural relics, Ayuthaya will not disappoint you but if you are just looking for some superficial Thailand experience this is not the place for you.
Visiting Ayutthaya can help you placing your visit to other temples into context so I would recommend that you visit Ayutthaya on the beginning of your Thai trip.
How to get to Ayutthaya from Bangkok
Ayyuthaya is 80 km away from Bangkok and depending on your budget and time you could chose from the following options.
Bangkok to Ayutthaya by tour
If you are on a tight schedule the best option will be to book a guided tour with an English speaking. The tour guide will make sure you do not miss any of the best attractions in the complex while relating some historic events related to the city.
Some tours bring you from Bangkok to Ayutthaya by bus and back from Ayutthaya to Bangkok by boat along the Chao Praya river, which a very nice and relaxed option to end up your day trip.
Bangkok to Ayutthaya by train
Trains to Ayutthaya from Bangkok are departing from Bangkok’s Hualamphon train station and the trip will take you between one hour to two hours, depending on which train class and time you take. The fastest train of the day is the 8:30 a.m train.
There are two classes of tickets, tickets with AC and fastest train and tickets for slower type of train and no AC. The prices vary from 30 to 250 Baths, depending on the class. You can check the train timetables here.
To get from Ayutthaya train station to the ruins complex you need to cross the river to the other side and this will cost you around 4 baths. The train is slow but is is worth as the scenery is pretty captivating.
Bangkok to Ayutthaya by bus
Bus is the fastest and quickest way to get from Bangkok to Ayutthaya. The price is between 50 and 100 baths and it will take you one of two hours getting there.
Buses depart from Moh Chit bus station and there is not much information available on line so you need to ask around once in Bangkok.
Bangkok to Ayutthaya by private taxi
This option is the most expensive but it will give you the option to visit at your own pace and chose your schedule you can always negotiate the price with one of the street drivers or ask at your hotel.
What to wear in Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya does not have a dress code as all the active temples in Thailand. The ancient temples are treated more like historical sites. I was wearing a sleeveless top as many of the people who visited the site with me.
What to do in Ayutthaya in one day
There are several temples to see in Ayutthata in one day and here are following are the most important ones you should not skip
Wat Phra Mahathat
This is the must visit temple in Ayutthaya as it is here where the famous photo of a Buddha entwined on a tree resides.
Nobody knows for certain how the head of the Buddha ended up there and there are two main theories. One is that the tree grew around the Buddha head and the other that it was left there by a thief, around the year 1900, who was trying to steal it from the temple and left it there to hide it.
This is one of the most iconic images of Thailand and you are allowed to take pictures with the Buddha but please be mindful that these are sacred places for the locals. You should always take a photo from kneeling or crouched position and never get too close to the Buddha or the tree.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet / The Grand Palace
This temple was the holiest and biggest temple of the ancient Thai capital until it was destroyed by the Burmese troops in 1767.
The image of this temple is all over the place as a representation of the Ayutthaya complex and it mainly consists of three stupas in a row.
Wat Chaiwattaranaram
Wat Chaiwattaranaram was a royal temple and where the king would organize it religious ceremonies. It is one of the most well preserved temples of the Ayutthaya archeological park.
Wat Buddhaisawan
This temple is home to a giant reclining Buddha dressed in orange and it is located on the banks of the Chao Praya river.
It is the only temple in the complex that it is still used for ritualistic purposes.
Temples fees in Ayutthaya
There are not fees to enter the Ayutthaya national park, however there is a fee of 50 baths to be paid at the entrance of most temples.
MORE BANGKOK AND THAILAND GUIDES
I have been several in Bangkok and have spent in total months there during several stays in the city arriving from Europe or just on the way to other several destination in Thailand. Check here some more Bangkok guides;
- Bangkok temple, the complete guide
- Amulet market Bangkok, Thailand
- Wat Arun temple Bangkok: The complete 2024 guide
- Bangkok Canal Tour: All you need to know 2024
- The best Bangkok one day itinerary
- Bangkok 4 day itinerary
- 16 facts about Bangkok
And it is not only about Bangkok but Thailand is one of the most beautiful countries in the world that I have travel extensively and I know quiet well. Check here some of the guides:
- Scuba diving with whale sharks in Thailand
- Koh Phayam, one of Thailand’s hidden gems
- Koh Kood: An idyllic pirates island in Thailand
- A guide to Koh Phi Phi diving
- Koh Lanta diving guide 2024
- Yoga in Koh Phangan
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- 16 FACTS ABOUT BANGKOK - March 31, 2024
