Sights in Ayuthaya Province
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Wat Phanan Choeng
One of the major Ayuthaya highlights, the busy and modern-looking Wat Phanan Choeng is a popular pilgrimage destination for weekenders from Bangkok. Although the original temple allegedly pre-dates the Ayuthaya era, many Thai-Chinese regard this temple with special reverence because of its later benefactor Sam Po Kong (Zheng He), a Chinese explorer who visited Ayuthaya in 1407.
As an emissary of the Chinese imperial court, Sam Po established diplomatic and trading relations all along his sea voyage, which extended as far west as Africa. For many local worshippers, the famous Buddha image (Luang Por Phanan Choeng or Phra Phanan Choeng) is often directly associated with the…
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Wat Na Phra Meru
This Wat Na Phra Meru escaped destruction during the Burmese attack in 1767 because it was used as the invading army's headquarters. It was also the site where the Burmese king was fatally injured after firing a defective cannon. His death ended the sacking of Ayuthaya.
Restoration of the temple, which was originally built in 1546, took place during the reign of King Rama III of the Bangkok era. The primary draw here is the main bòt (central sanctuary) which contains an amazing carved wooden ceiling depicting the Buddhist heavens, with Mt Sumeru in the centre. There is also a splendid Ayuthaya-era Buddha image sitting 6m high. The unique characteristics of the Ayuthaya a…
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Elephant Kraal
Wild elephants were once rounded up and kept in this kraal (stockade). Each year the king would look on as the finest beasts were chosen and either put to work or used as war machines. This restored kraal, which has 980 teak logs, is northeast of the island.
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Wat Maheyong
East of the island and just beyond the train station is another collection of ruins in a more pastoral setting than central Ayuthaya. Tourist groups are rare out here and most of the grounds are kept trimmed by local farmers' livestock. Wat Maheyong is an operational temple with a popular weekend meditation retreat held in a leafy courtyard beside the temple ruins. The historic portion of the temple was built in 1438.
The outstanding chedi is bell shaped and was once surrounded by a ring of carved elephants statues, a unique feature in Ayuthaya. A brick walkway connects the ruins to nearby Khlong Maheyong; the middle way was reserved for the king.
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Wat Na Phra Mehn
North of the old royal palace (wang lŏo·ang) grounds is a bridge to Wat Na Phra Mehn. This temple is notable because it escaped destruction when the Burmese overran and sacked the city in 1767. The main bòht was built in 1546 and features fortress-like walls and pillars. The bòht interior contains an impressive carved wooden ceiling and a splendid 6m-high sitting Buddha in royal attire. Inside a smaller wí·hăhn behind the bòht is a green-stone, European-pose (sitting in a chair) Buddha from Ceylon, said to be 1300 years old. The walls of the wí·hăhn show traces of 18th- or 19th-century murals.
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Portuguese Settlement
Due south of the island is the historical district of the kingdom's former diplomatic entourages, many of whom arrived during the reign of King Narai. Japanese, Chinese, Dutch, Portuguese and other foreign representatives came to the Ayuthaya court to encourage trade, serve as advisors or assist in defending the city. One of the eeriest remnants of the foreigners' footprint is the cemetery at the Portuguese Settlement.
An open pit displays the petrified skeletons of Portuguese residents, many of whom died of small pox. The traditional Thai spirit house on the grounds contains figures of St Joseph and St Paul.
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Phu Khao Thong
At the top of this chedi's 79 steps are splendid views of the city. Originally built by the Burmese during a 15-year occupation, the top section was added later by Thais. The statue at the front is a memorial to the all-conquering King Naresuan. Surrounding him are dozens of statues of fighting cockerels. Legend says that when Naresuan was a hostage in Burma his invincible fighting cockerels secured his fearsome reputation. Phu Khao Thong is northwest of the island.
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Wat Phra Mahathat
The most photographed image in Ayuthaya is here; a sandstone Buddha head that lies mysteriously tangled within a tree's entwined roots. Built in 1374 during the reign of King Borom Rachathirat I, Wat Phra Mahathat also has a central prang (Khmer-style chedi) and rows of headless Buddha images. Nobody knows for sure how the Buddha head ended up in the tree. Some say the head was abandoned after the Burmese sacked Ayuthaya, and trees subsequently grew around it. Others believe thieves tried to steal the image, but gave up as it was too heavy.
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Ayuthaya Historical Study Centre
Getting a handle on the religious and historical importance of the temples at Ayuthaya is difficult without some preliminary research. Ayuthaya Historical Study Centre has informative, professional displays that paint a clear picture of the ancient city. Other museums in town include Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, which features a basic roundup of Thai Buddhist sculpture with an emphasis on Ayuthaya pieces, and Chantharakasem National Museum, a museum piece in itself, in the northeast corner of town.
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Chantharakasem National Museum
Getting a handle on the religious and historical importance of the temples is difficult without some preliminary research. Ayuthaya Historical Study Centre has informative, professional displays that paint a clear picture of the ancient city. Other museums in Ayuthaya include Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, which features a basic roundup of Thai Buddhist sculpture with an emphasis on Ayuthaya pieces, and Chantharakasem National Museum, a museum piece in itself, in the northeast corner of town.
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Wat Kudi Dao
East of the island and just beyond the train station is another collection of ruins in a more pastoral setting than central Ayuthaya. Tourist groups are rare out here and most of the grounds are kept trimmed by local farmers' livestock. Wat Kudi Dao is charmingly ruined with grasses sprouting between the roofless structures. Looking closer at the windows and gates there is an impressive amount of surviving details, often described as French architectural influences.
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Wat Chai Wattanaram
Everyone's favourite sunset shot, Wat Chai Wattanaram is one of Ayuthaya's most impressive homages to the Angkor/Khmer style. A central prang is flanked by minor prang arranged in each cardinal direction, in a prime riverside setting. The temple is said to have been built in the 17th century by King Prasat Thong in honour of his mother and was extensively restored in the 1980s. These ruins can be reached by boat or by bicycle via a nearby bridge.
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Japanese Village
Up to 1500 Japanese settled in Ayuthaya. Some came to trade while others were fleeing the persecution of Christians in their homeland during the 16th century. This Japanese Village includes a video presentation that sets the scene and a giant electronic image of an oil painting by Dutch artists of the old city at its zenith. The village is 5km south from the Portuguese Settlement.
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Wat Ratburana
Across Th Naresuan from Wat Phra Mahathat, the Wat Ratburana retains one of the best preserved prang on the island. It was built in the 15th century by King Borom Rachathirat II on the cremation site for his two brothers who had died battling each other in hopes of assuming the throne. Monument building in Ayuthaya was often done as an act of merit for a deceased royal elder rather than for glorification of the present ruler.
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Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon
Built by King U Thong in 1357, Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is a quiet old place that was once a famous meditation wat. According to some legends, the monks at this temple were consulted by conspirators for an auspicious time to stage a royal coup. Most impressive though is the large 7m-long reclining Buddha, obviously enjoying the sunshine. The temple is southeast of the town proper and is best reached by motorised transport.
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Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
Getting a handle on the religious and historical importance of the temples is difficult without some preliminary research. Museums in Ayuthaya include Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, which features a basic roundup of Thai Buddhist sculpture with an emphasis on Ayuthaya pieces, and Chantharakasem National Museum, a museum piece in itself, in the northeast corner of town.
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Wat Chai Wattanaram
Just 40 years ago this temple was immersed in thick jungle. Today it is one of Ayuthaya's most-photographed sites thanks to its impressive Khmer-style central prang, which stands 35m high. Built in 1630 by King Prasat Thong, the temple is a great place to watch sunsets. The site is west of the island and can be reached on bicycle via a nearby bridge.
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Wat Phra Si Sanphet
The three chedi (stupas) at Wat Phra Si Sanphet are perhaps the most iconic image in Ayuthaya. Built in the late 14th century, it was the city's largest temple and was used by several kings. It once contained a 16m-high standing Buddha (Phra Si Sanphet) covered with 250kg of gold, which was melted down by Burmese conquerors.
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Wat Ayuthaya
East of the island and just beyond the train station is a collection of ruins in a pastoral setting. Tourist groups are rare out here and most of the grounds are kept trimmed by local farmers' livestock. Continue past the graveyard of spirit houses to Wat Ayuthaya, which has a bell-shaped chedi on a square pedestal, an early Ayuthaya characteristic.
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Wat Thammikarat
To the west of Wat Ratburana, this temple is a pleasant place to sit among the ruins. The most prominent feature is a central chedi surrounded by singha (guardian lion) sculptures. Local people believe that the temple predated the Ayuthaya period, a claim unsupported by architectural evidence.
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Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
The largest museum in the city has 2400 items on show, ranging from a 2m-high bronze-cast Buddha head to glistening treasures found in the crypts of Wat Phra Mahathat and Wat Ratburana.
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Wat Phra Ram
Displaying a sturdy prang, Wat Phra Ram has a complicated lineage, indicative of much of Ayuthaya's chronicled structures. Claims of construction are often attributed to numerous kings throughout a 300-year time period. Some accounts state that this was the cremation site of King U Thong (the founder of the Ayuthaya kingdom).
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Wihaan Mongkhon Bophit
Next to Wat Phra Si Sanphet is this sanctuary hall, which houses one of the largest bronze Buddha images in Thailand. This 17m-high figure has undergone several facelifts due to lightning strikes and fire.
In 1955 the Burmese Prime Minister visited the site and donated 200,000B to help restore the building, an act of belated atonement for his country's sacking of the city 200 years before.
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Chantharakasem National Museum
The grounds of this national museum are actually more interesting than its collection of artefacts, sculptures and ancient weapons. The museum, near the banks of Mae Nam Pasak, is within the grounds of Wang Chan Kasem (Chan Kasem Palace), which was built for King Naresuan by his father in 1577.
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Wat Ratburana
The prang in this temple is one of the best extant versions in the city, with detailed carvings of lotus and mythical creatures. The temple, just north of Wat Phra Mahathat, was built in the 15th century by King Borom Rachathirat II on the cremation site for his two brothers who both died while fighting each other for the throne. Looters raided the site in 1957 and stole many treasures. Some of the culprits were arrested and a subsequent official excavation of the site uncovered many rare Buddha images in the crypt.
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