Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya…the Ruin City

Phra Nakhon Si Aytthaya was located on the island. It is surrounded by the three rivers. The Chao Phraya River flows from the northwest through the south of the city. While the Lop Buri River and the Pa Sak River flow from  the northeast and merge together at the the talat Nawang, then flows to meet the Choa Phraya River on the south of the island in front of the Wat Phananchoeng. There is a canal on the north of the city, the Khlong Mueang, which links the Chao Phraya River and the Lop Buri River. It was quite perfect strategically city in the past. These three rivers connects  the city to the sea .The city was ideally situated at the head of the Gulf of Siam. It is on the central plain of the Chao Phraya Basin.

The Central Plain of the Chao Phraya Basin

The Chao Phraya River in front of the Wat Kasatrathirat

The Elephants, the important animal in the history of Siamese, Southeast Asia and South Asia.

The Map of Thailand

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya was the second capital of the Siamese Kingdom, founded in 1350.  It flourished from the 14th to the 18th centuries, during which time it grew to be one of the world’s largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and a center of global diplomacy and commerce. This site was chosen because it was located above the tidal bore of the Gulf of Siam as it existed at that time, thus preventing attack of the city by the sea-going warships of other nations. The location also helped to protect the city from seasonal flooding.

The city was attacked and razed by the Burmese army in 1767 who burned the city to the ground and forced the inhabitants to abandon the city. The city was never rebuilt in the same location and remains known today as an extensive archaeological site.

Read more from this link, http://whc.unesco.org/en/list/576

The Ruin Palace

The Historic City of Ayutthaya is managed as a historical park which announced to be the World Heritage since 1991. Its remains, characterized by the prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, give an idea of its past splendor.

The Ruin Palace

How to go to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya? Phra Nahon Si Ayutthaya was located 76 kms. ahead to  the north of Bangkok. It is very convenience to visit it by car, van, bus and train. There are the boat trips to Ayutthaya on weekend, please check from river cruise tour agents.

I have always visited Ayutthaya. There are many routes to access the city. From here I will let you tour the ruin city by the main route. Let’s start from the National Highway No.32 / AH1/AH2. From the national highway no.32 we must turn left to reach the road no.309 ahead to the old city.  By the way on this trip I will recommend the worth visit places and will give more details of each places next time because of too long text. Here we go!

The Map of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, the ruin city, thank you for Google Maps

1. The first place of this trip is Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon. It was situated outside the old city on the right bank of the Chao Phraya River. We have to turn left to the provincial highway no.3477. The temple is on the left side.

The Chedi, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon

2. Wat Phananchoeng was situated on the right bank of the Chao Phraya River. It is on the right side of the road no.3477.

Luang Pho To, Wat Phananchoeng

3. Wat Kudi Dao, Wat Chakkrawat, These temples were located on the same area. They are on the right bank of the Pa Sak River. We have to turn right at the Pagoda Circle on the road no.309. Then go ahead to the local road to these temples. We have to pass the Ayothaya Floating Market.

The Ubosot, Wat Kudi Dao

The Chedi, Wat Chakkrawat

4. Wat Maheyong was situated on the same road ahead to the Wat Kudi Dao and the Wat Chakkrawat. It was located on the right side of the road. We have to turn right into the lane to Wat Maheyong.

The Ubosot, Wat Maheyong

5. Ayothaya Floating Market. Wat Chedi Hantra, it was in the adjacent area of the Wat Maheyong. It was an artificial floating market. Nice to visit.

Wat Hantra

Well! It’s time to throw back into the lost city. We turn around to the Chedi Circle and turn right to pass over the Bridge over the Pasak River head to the City Island.

6. The Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, it is the first place we should visit in city. It was located on the corner of the junction of the road no.309 (Rotchana Road) and the Si Prat Road.

7.Wang Chang Lae Phaniat Ayutthaya (The Ayutthaya Elephant Palace) from the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum we turn right and head to the Si Prat Road. It is on the left corner of the circle on the Naresuan Road.

Take a ride, elephant tour the old city

8.Viharn Phra Mongkhonbophit, it was in the adjacent area of Wang Chang Ayutthaya. After we worship the Buddha Image in the temple here we start to explore the ruin city.

Phra Mongkhonbophit

Viharn Phra Mongkhonbophit

9.Wat Phra Si Sanphet and the Grand Palace, They were situated on the north of Viharn Phra Mongkhonbopit. It was the royal temple as same as the Wat Phra Kaeo in Bangkok. There was consisted of  the temple and the royal palace.

Wat Phra Si Sanphet

The ruin palace was burnt to the ground.

10.Wat Phra Ram and Bueng Phra Ram Park, it was situated in front of the Viharn Phra Mongkhonbophit in the opposite side of the Naresuan Road. There is a grand park, Bueng Phra Ram, on the back of the temple. We can found the ruin temples and the royal pavilion around this huge park.

Wat Phra Ram

Bueng Phra Ram Park

11.Wat Phra Maha That, it was situated next to the Bueng Phra Ram Park. The gate is on the Chikun Road.

Wat Maha That

12.Wat Rat Burana, it is opposite the Wat Maha That by the Naresuan Road. Te entrance is on the Chikun Road as same as the Wat Maha That.

Wat Rat Burana

13.Wat Thammikkarat, it was located on the northeast of the Grand Palace. We can access this temple on the U Thong Road or by the street on the back of temple which is in front of the ruin grand palace.

The Lions Chedi, Wat Thammikkarat

14. Wat Lokayasuttharam, it was situated on the west of the Wat Phra Si Sanphet. We can go there by the Khlong Tho Road or the other way on the U Thong Road.

The Reclining Buddha, Wat Lokayasuttharam

Here we visit the interesting places out of the city again.

15.Wat Na Phra Merurachikaram, it was locate on the north out of the city. There is a canal, the Khlong Mueang, separated the city and the temple. It was an important temple in the history of the war between Siamese and Burmese. Please read my text from this link.  https://hiwaymap.wordpress.com/2017/03/02/wat-na-phra-merurachikaram/

The Ubosot, Wat Na Phra Merurachikaram

16.Wat Phu Khao Thong, it was located on the right bank of the Chao Phraya River head to the north. It is on the left side of the national highway no.309, head to the Ang Thong Province. This temple is in the same area of the monument of the King Nares, the Great and the royal project, the King Nares Reservoir of the King Rama IX, the late king of Thailand.

The Chedi, Wat Phu Khao Thong

17.Wat Chai Watthanaram, was situated on the left bank of the Chao Phraya River. We have to go there by the provincial highway no.3263, the road which take us to the west, when we pass over the Bridge over the Chao Phraya River then turn left to the provincial highway no.3469. It is a road which pass through the communities of the Chao Phraya River.

Wat Chai Watthanaram

18.Wat Phutthai Sawan, it is next to the Wat Chai Watthanaram. it was located on the south of the city. There is a Chedi which was kept the relics of the King  U Thong, King Rama Thibodi I.

Phra Prang, Wat Phutthaisawan

Besides these interesting places there are more interesting palaces both archaeological site and the palace in the Phranakhon Si Ayuthaya, the Bang Pa-in Palace, Prasat Nakhon Luang, the Royal Elephant Kraal, Bang Pa-in Royal Folks and Crafts Center, Bang Koet Royal Folks and Crafts and etc,.

A baby elephant, the royal elephant kraal

Thank you for reading. Hope you get an idea to visit the Autthaya Historical Park. Worth Visit!

Everyone!!! Who gets a plan to visits Thailand and requires a traveling plans, please send text to me on Contact.  I will give you a traveling plan and a free copy of Tout Thai Hi-Way Map 77 Provinces!!!