Ayutthaya was the capital of ancient Siam for a period of more than 400 years. The city was razed several times by Burmese invaders during the 1700s, leading to the country"s capital being relocated to Bangkok. The ruins of ancient Ayutthaya still stand and are one of the major tourist attractions in Thailand.
As most of Ayutthaya was destroyed when the city was looted and burned by the invading Burmese in 1767, the remains of several settlements off the island were built by foreign countries to demonstrate the importance of Ayutthaya's intensive trade with many foreign nations in its glorious days.
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- The area was established in March 1351.
- The area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991.
- The Ayutthaya kings had three royal palaces built on the island.
- The park is located on an island, surrounded by the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak and Lopburi rivers in the town of Ayutthaya, 80 kilometers north of Bangkok.
- Even though most monuments are in a ruined state, they are sacred places to Buddhists. Please be respectful when visiting.
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My husband and I are planning a 3 week…
Alisa was a great listener to all the things we wanted to incorporate into our trip. We discussed everything throughly, and when I had questions, she had answers the next day. I really appreciate her responsiveness and detail with me. I feel like we are in the best hands with Alisa and Asia Highlights. More
, Mar 2024
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Very great experience our driver D was…
Very great experience our driver D was never late and always had waters and a cold towel for us and our tour guide Som was very informative and had amazing English I recommend them both highly for anyone else traveling More
Rylan Coache, Feb 2024
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Excellent guide in Siem Reap
Our recent time spent in Siem Reap was made even more memorable by our expert guide, Som Piseth. Som was knowledgeable, attentive, flexible and super helpful - we learnt so much about Siem Reap and Cambodia in our 3 days with him. His English was excellent and his knowledge of, and pride in, his country was outstanding. We would highly recommend Som for anyone wanting an excellent guide in Siem Reap! More
Sharon Townshend, Feb 2024
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Asia Highlights trip to Thailand
Our first tour guide in Bangkok, Marie, was great to tour around with. She was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. Our next stop in Chang Mai we were greeted by our new tour guide, Rafael. He too was extremely friendly and knowledgeable and spoke wonderful English. He made it feel as if we were traveling around with a long time friend. Every time we arrived at a new destination, we were greeted at the airport by someone with a sign with our name making our travels easy. I would definitely recommend Asia Highlights to anyone looking for a well planned trip of a lifetime! More
Tricia, Feb 2024
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Amazing Thailand experience
The tour guides were all knowledgeable and accommodating, especially Mayuree in Bangkok- absolutely wonderful. We felt taken care of and every step of the way was catered to our needs. More
Ashley White, Feb 2024
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Private tour perfect for our times
Asia highlights organized a private tour with our requests. Everything was perfect ?? the driver Tom and the guide Ying were always on time with a smile in their face. Always willing to help and make our trip perfect. Bangkok is a very hot city so we minimized the time outside. The driver always had cold towels for us in the van and cold beverages. More
Virginia, Feb 2024
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Thailand
We loved Chiang Mai and Susie did a great job showing us several temples, taking many pictures of us with the elephants at the sanctuary (a definite highlight of the entire trip!), and making sure we were well fed, which became a running joke between us.We had a very relaxing few days in Phuket enjoying the beautiful beaches. Kai was great, answering all of our questions and giving us a nice tour of the old town. The all-day speedboat tour of the Phi Phi islands started off a little shaky as the sea was quite rough so if you’re at all uncomfortable bouncing around in a speedboat, you might want to skip that tour. Things did calm down as the day went on and some of the areas they took us to for swimming, snorkeling, etc were really beautiful. A couple of the islands were too crowded with people. More
Andrea Roberts, Feb 2024
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What a Wonderful Trip
What a Wonderful Trip! We booked with Sharon and our trip was great - guides were waiting for us at each stop, and they were all very nice and helpful. I cannot stress how amazing the guides were - they made the trip. More
Rachel, Feb 2024
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Ask for Victor!
If you are traveling to Bangkhok you need to request Victor. He made our trip amazing! My family completed bucket list items with his guidance. He knew exactly how to get us places, kept us on time, made us feel safe, educated us on history, spoke excellent English and was genuinely a nice man! Everyone we encountered was awesome- but Victor is the reason for my 5 star review! More
Sandy, Jan 2024
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Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a…
Thank you Alisa for helping us plan a wonderful trip to Thailand. We had a great time. The tour guides were wonderful as were the hotels you booked for us. We will definitely contact you to plan our next trip More
Carol Yeung, Jan 2024
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Ying was the best
Ying was the best. She was really knowledgeable and kind. Thank you Ying for wonderful experience in Thailand! More
Sylvester Yeung, Jan 2024
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Very well organized
Very well organized. Our tour guide, Ying, was amazing! She had full knowledge of every location we visited and made sure our itinerary was fulfilled as expected. She was extremely helpful for our airport experiences, and made sure we arrived at an appropriate time. More
David M. Kang, Jan 2024
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Family trip to Thailand
We were lucky to be greeted by Marie and her driver.In Marie, we have made a friend for life. She is incredibly smart and knowledgeable about her home country. From the vast number of temples to safely traversing Chinatown.She helped give us tips on our free days, locate left behind lost clothing and arrange for pickup. She even helped check us in for our flight to Chiang Mai.She prepared us ahead of time for every event we had scheduled and bonded with our kids, 3x 13 year olds. More
Justin Levenbrook, Jan 2024
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Thailand with and amazing tour guide Ying
I highly recommend Ying as a tour guide in Thailand. Her expertise in Thai culture, combined with her passion for food and genuine love for her country, made the tour an exceptional experience. If you're looking for a guide who will not only show you the sights but also immerse you in the local culture and help you discover delicious Thai cuisine, Ying is the perfect choice. More
Diana Irizarry, Jan 2024
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Asia Highlights Thailand trip
Asia Highlights provided us with a great travel trip. They made it very easy to navigate through Thailand with everything going very smoothly. From the easy transportation to the great day itinerary everything was awesome. Will definitely look to use this agency again in the future. More
Taylor Jones, Jan 2024
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Perfect 2 WK Thailand Trip for a Solo Female Traveler
Bank was our guide in Bangkok and he showed us around the city with ease and we were able to see and try things I never would have planned on my own. After Bangkok, our small group flew to Chiang Mai for Yi Peng lantern festival and that was a breathtaking experience that I will never forget! Pop was our guide in this city and she was knowledgeable, kind and caring which made our experience even more memorable. More
Tia, Dec 2023
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We recently have just returned from Thailand
We recently have just returned one from a 5 week trip to Thailand through Asia Highlights. We had a wonderful time and Asia Highlights went beyond our expectations. They truly tried their best to make sure everything went smoothly and we were taken care of! Everyone was amazing and we would definitely use them in the future!! Many thanks to everyone that helped to make this an incredible once in a lifetime experience!! More
Karen Rocque, Dec 2023
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Indochina Experience
On our 5th day of our trip with Asiahighlights. We felt well taken care of before and it hasn’t changed since we started from Bangkok to Hanoi (guide Kim was verrry knowledgeable!) to Halong Bay (spectacular scenery) to Hoi An (guide Nhieu Tran, giving great local (shopping) tips and insights). More
Stefan Eisenhut, Dec 2023
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Ayutthaya Historical Park
The Ayutthaya Historical Park consists of the ruins of temples and palaces of the capital of the ancient Ayutthaya Kingdom. The park is located on an island, surrounded by three rivers, where the old capital of Thailand used to be.
During the more than 400 years of its existence, the Ayutthaya Kingdom built a great number of temples in various styles. Many have been restored by the Thai Fine Arts Department.
UNESCO World Heritage Site
The Historic City of Ayutthaya is well-known from historical records. As one of the world's largest cities of its time and a major political, economic and religious center, many visitors recorded facts about the city and their experiences there.
This park rests on the island, framed by three significant rivers: Chao Phraya, Lopburi and Pa Sak. The architectural remains of the temples and palaces of the ancient kingdom of Ayutthaya make up one of Thailand's most precious historical sites. The 715-acre area has been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1991, as it portrays the heyday of one of the largest kingdoms in IndoChina history.
History
Ayutthaya was established by King Ramathibodi I on Friday, 4 March 1351, in the vicinity of an ancient settlement dating back to the Dvaravati era (6th to the 11th centuries). The city state expanded its boundaries over the centuries. A magnificent city in the 17th and 18th century, with a cosmopolitan character, it became one of the most important trading hubs of Asia.
Ayutthaya was the capital of the Siamese for 417 years. The city fell to the Burmese in the night of Tuesday, 7 April 1767. Sacked and plundered by the Burmese, it was later dismantled during the reigns of King Rama I and Rama III to reconstruct the Siamese capital of Bangkok.
Foreigners in Ayutthaya
Ayutthaya remained the capital for so long for a number of reasons. For one, it was home to an extensive trading port that welcomed international merchants, many of whom were from Europe.
The income of the city came from agricultural products, and from duties levied on foreign trade. From the 16th century, European visitors from Portugal, France, Holland and England were received in Ayutthaya. The Europeans were very impressed by the wealth they encountered.
At its height, Ayutthaya was one of the most important trading centers in the area. The city was so memorable to these travelers because of its many temples and palaces.
Exploring Ayutthaya Historical Park
All of the ruined buildings found in Ayutthaya today had taken about 150 years to complete in total. Many of the palaces were made of wood. The temples have their own Siamese style, but a lot of the temples' architecture drew inspiration from other influences, including Sri Lanka.
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
One of Ayutthaya's most impressive temples, the Khmer style Wat Chaiwatthanaram, is a royal temple that was used by the king and other members of the royal family. The monastery is located opposite the southwest corner of the historical island, on the other side of the Chao Phraya River. A boat trip around the historical island provides for very nice views of this large, well preserved temple.
At the center of the Wat Chaiwatthanaram, there is a 35 meter tall Khmer style prang (a corncob shaped tower), standing on a raised brick platform. At each of its corners stands a much smaller tower. The prang represents Mount Meru, a mountain in Hindu and Buddhist cosmology which is the center of the universe, surrounded by oceans.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet
Wat Phra Sri Sanphet is the royal monastery and therefore no monk was allowed to reside at it. However, the temple served to conduct ceremonies within the royal court, such as a drinking ritual as an oath of allegiance. It is also regarded as an equivalence of Wat Mahathat in Sukhothai and a model for Wat Phra Sri Ratana Sasadaram (the royal temple of the Emerald Buddha) or Wat Phra Kaew in Bangkok.
This royal monastery plays an important role in history of art and archeology. The remaining debris still evidently portray how glorious the country was. At the heart of the temple, there are three adjacent Ceylonese (or bell-shaped) pagodas, situated on rectangular platforms. It is believed that these platforms were the base of royal houses in the Ayutthaya period.
Wat Phanan Choeng
The monastery is located in the southeastern area at the confluence of the Chao Phraya and the Pa Sak Rivers. The monastery has four principal buildings in its sangkha area: an ordination hall, a vihara, the large vihara and a small Chinese building.
The ordination hall contains three Buddha images, all in the posture of subduing Mara. Two images are assumed to have been built during the Sukhothai period, around 1357. They were covered with stucco, lacquer and gilt, probably to hide their value from the Burmese invaders in 1767.
Wat Ratchaburana
Wat Ratchaburana was built by King Borom Ratchathirat II, at the place where both his brothers died (they killed each other) during a fight for the vacant throne of Ayutthaya. After both his brother had died, King Borom Ratchathirat II became king. As such, Wat Ratchaburana was built during the early Ayutthaya period.
A large amount of the golden artefacts and treasures that were found at Wat Ratchaburana, are currently stored in the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum.
Wat Kudi Dao
Another big temple, located to the east of the city, outside the island of Ayutthaya, Wat Kudi Dao consists of a large ubosot, a viharn and a chedi. Outside the wall is another building, which served as a pavilion for the King.
All is in ruins today, and in this temple the collapsing of the chedi can almost be seen in the way the remains are scattered around the temple ground. This temple is said to be from the early Ayutthaya period and was reconstructed in A.D. 1711.
7-Day Central Thailand Exploration:
Guided Tour of Ayutthaya Historical Park
The Ayutthaya Experience takes you through the historical wonders of Thailand"s ancient capital. Ayutthaya is dotted with ruins and grand temples, surrounded by the Chao Phraya, Pa Sak and Lopburi Rivers, and filled with the aura of mystique and grandeur that truly reflects ancient Thailand.
Located 80 kilometers north of Bangkok, although Ayutthaya isn't hard to get to, it is recommended to use a guided tour in order to get the most out of this historical area. You will be picked up at your hotel and head straight to the area with a comfortable car. You will be accompanied by a tour guide so that you can understand the history behind all that you see in the area.
Explore Ayutthaya Historical Park with Asia Highlights
Looking for an unforgettable visit to Ayutthaya Park? Do you want to create wow-moments with your loved ones, as well as learn about the history of the area? Travel with Asia Highlights and you will be guaranteed to get the most out of this place. Please contact us if you have any questions.
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Our guide lele is a wealth of information, Lele is very professional and very attentive to our needs. Lele is amazing. Lele got everything spot on. It probably helps that Guilin is a brilliant place to visit so Lele has great material to work with but that doesn't take anything away from how much Lele helped make it a great trip.
moreOur guide for Beijing was super knowledgeable and experienced and able to help us to achieve as much as we wanted within the time given. We had a fun time guided by him as he is also super humorous and you can see how he interacts with the vendors and people whom he comes by. Thank you for a very enjoyable time in Beijing and accommodating to all our needs!
moreOur China Highlight guide. Michael, was attentive, thoughtful and knowledgeable. He narrated many interesting historical events about Chengdu while touring around the city and having afternoon tea with us. He was thoughtful to provide us with snacks during long hikes at Leshan or walks around the city.
moreShe was very flexible and added extra time when we needed it and we felt extremely well taken care of. She also chose the best restaurants for us,
moreOur tour guide Helen, was excellent, she was very kind, professional and passionate for her work and she also loves Pandas! She will take you to take the best panda photos and to know more about Chengdu city. Our tour was great, she took us to all our destinations always with the best spots: Temples, pagodas, famous streets, theaters, pandas...you name it! Everything was great.
moreHe picked up our pre-booked boat/other excursions tickets so we were able to avoid all the long lines and chaos. He is knowledgeable of the places we visited, courteous, fun to travel with and well-versed in Chinese classics.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreTom is the guide that will take you to where no other guide will. We pushed for the experience and Tom and the team delivered more than what we could have ever asked for. His English speaking ability and his Chinese history knowledge is second to none.
moreOur day trip to Hangzhou was phenomenal. Derek, our guide, was impeccable. By far the best guide we have had so far. He is extremely knowledgeable about the country’s history and geography and was always excited to share his insights.
moreXian es encantadora, el hotel Eastern house boutique muy buena elección por parte de la agencia, los desayunos muy completos para complacer todo tipo de gusto, lo recomiendo 100%, el itinerario fue muy acertado fueron 2 días en la ciudad xian, compartimos con la guía Susana, la atención, la amabilidad y sobre todo su profesionalismo fue lo que marcó la diferencia, sus detalles, estaba siempre en el lugar y momento correcto para hacer de xian un lugar inolvidable.
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