Ayuthaya attractions
As one–time capital of Siam before its subsequent conquering and sacking by the Burmese, Ayuthaya has a wealth of temple architecture, although unfortunately most of it lies in ruins today. However these ruins still strike an impressive historic collection that has earned them UNESCO World Heritage status. The central island is where most attractions and ruins reside, easily seen on foot or by bicycle. It may be an idea to hire a tour guide if you are really interested in the history of the place, yet simply wandering among the ruins is rewarding enough for most people. There are some equally impressive sites on the outer banks of the river that shouldn’t be missed.
Wat Phra Si Sanphet and Wat Mongkonbophit
Wat Phra Si Sanphet, on the road of the same name, is the largest temple in Ayuthaya and is located in the grounds of the former royal palace. The temple’s most redeeming feature is long gone; a huge Buddha (16m tall) which was adorned with over 300kgs of gold. Of course, the Burmese made off with this after destroying the Buddha. Built in various stages over the 15th century as a royal chapel and burial site, the temple is today noted for its trademark trio of large chedi and covers a large area. Beside it is the rebuilt Mandapa of Wat Mongkonbophit, which covers a giant seated Buddha. This was built at the turn of the 17th century as a cremation site.
Open: daily
Admission: 30 baht
Royal Palace
Not much of this remains other than the foundations, but in its day it was magnificent as seen by the scale model in the Ayuthaya Historical Study Center. Located north of Wat Si Sanphet overlooking the Lopburi River, the Ancient Palace was another unfortunate victim of the Burmese onslaught. It’s possible however to discern the grandeur of the original palace through the sheer size of the compound. Parts of it have been rebuilt authentically in the Ancient City Historic Park south of Bangkok.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 18.00
Admission: free
Wat Phra Ram
Easily seen from the vicinity of Wat Si Sanphet, this temple complex is most notable for its central Khmer styled prang and is one of the oldest sites in Ayuthaya, dating from 1369, though records of renovation and who actually ‘built’ it are contradictory. It served as a burial site and is surrounded by pretty lakes, making it an excellent photographic subject. In a May 2007 visit we found it to be off limits to the public.
Open: check with local administrators
Admission: 30 baht
Wat Ratchaburana
Just next door is Wat Ratachaburana, another of Ayuthaya’s more impressive temples. This one was built about 40 years after Wat Mahathat, in 1424, and has been well restored with its two huge monuments retaining part of their original stucco. You can climb down into the crypts – a slightly unnerving experience, particularly when no–one else is around – and take a look at some artefacts. Two unusual stories are associated with the temple. The first is the legend of the two princes who fought each other to the death over the right to succeed their father, leaving a third brother to unwittingly become king and build the temple in honour of all three. In 1957, looters broke into a hitherto unknown part of the crypt and stole a large amount of valuable amulets. They were apprehended and the amulets auctioned off to raise renovation money. Most of the artefacts can be found displayed at the Chao Sam Phraya Museum, including bronze Buddhas and jewellery.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 18.00
Admission: 30 baht
Wat Mahathat
Wat Mahathat is the most impressive of Ayuthaya’s temples with its many headless Buddhas and striking stupa. Look out for the distinctively inverse shaped tiers of the main prang. It served as a monastery and dates from 1374, although it has seen several renovations. Perhaps the most eagerly visited site on the grounds of the temple is the Buddha head at the base of a large tree trunk, which was originally part of a statue before the Burmese disassembled it. It is theorised that a looter left the head where it stands today and a bodhi tree (ficus religiosa) grew around it, strangling it with vine–like roots. It makes a great photo, though a Buddha head is eternally venerated and shouldn’t be on the ground, so do be respectful.
Open: daily, 08.00 to 18.00
Admission: 30 baht
Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
Located on Rojana road not far from the city centre, Chao Sam Phraya National Museum is the country’s second largest museum and features striking antique bronze Buddha images, other religious objects, intricately carved panels and many other impressive items from the age.
Open: daily, Wednesday to Sunday – 09.00 to 16.00; tel: 035 241587
Admission: 30 baht
Wat Chaiwatthanaram
Perhaps the most spectacular of all the Ayuthaya temple complexes, often overlooked since it stands on the northwest banks of the river, this site is best reached on a river cruise around Ayuthaya. It’s relatively young by comparison (1630), but still displays the distinctive Khmer style with its main 35m prang and four lesser prangs laid out in a courtyard style, giving it a similarity to parts of Angkor. It was a royal monastery, and was used as an army barracks by the invading Burmese in 1767 before falling into abandonment until its renovation in 1992. Its large grounds are worth exploring and it is easily the most photogenic of the Ayuthaya temples.
Open: daily, 09.00 to 17.00
Admission: 30 baht
Chandra Kasem Palace
Tied to the National Museum, this beautiful palace was home to King Naresuan whenever he stayed in Ayuthaya. The palace was destroyed but later rebuilt by King Mongkut featuring some amazing jewellery, plentiful Buddha images and numerous other delightful religious objects. The palace can be found in the northeast part of the old city.
Open: daily, Wednesday to Sunday – 09.00 to 12.00 and 13.00 to 16.00
Admission: 30 baht
Wat Yai Chai Mongkol
Tricky to get to, this temple is non–the–less a favourite on Ayuthaya tours with its large, well preserved chedi that is one of the few that is not of Khmer style. You can climb half way up for a better view of the grouds and witness Thais making merit at the reclining Buddha. Also on the grounds is a memorial to King Naresuan the Great (with his distinct hair cut!) and King Chulalongkorn, Rama V, who actually never lived in Ayuthaya.
Open: daily, 09.00 to 17.00
Admission: 30 baht
Ayuthaya Historical Study Center
Also on Rojana road and near to the Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, Ayuthaya Historical Study Center is a great resource for students, presenting a good overview of Ayuthaya with some excellent models of the port area and ships, and plenty of other impressive historical objects. This air— conditioned facility is small but offers an excellent opportunity to get your bearings of Ayuthaya before visiting all the sites.
Open: daily, 09.00 to 16.30; tel: 035 245124
Admission: 100 baht
The Chedi of Queen Suriyothai
Although striking a definite image when you take the much recommended boat tour around Ayuthaya, this lofty gilded and white chedi isnÃt built in the common Khmer style of the older Ayuthaya era, since it was constructed as late a 1548. It commemorates a heroine who went into battle to distract an attack on her husband whose elephant had stumbled. She saved him but lost her own life. This became the subject of a major film in 2003.
Open: always
Admission: none
Khun Phaen Residence
Also on Sri Sanphet road, this beautifully–renovated traditional teak house is on most tourists’ itineraries. It is set in a park, not far from the centre of the old city, and is usually populated by several elephants at any one time on their trot around the city.
Open: daily
Admission: free
Wat Phanan Choeng
Probably not on your itinerary if you are all ‘templed out’, this is in fact one of the areas oldest sites, dating from 1324 (before the city was founded). However, most of what you see today is Rattanakosin styled temple buildings from its renovation and rebuilding in 1854. It’s popular as a pilgrimage site for Thais due to its enormous Buddha, which cannot be seen any other way since it’s too large in its enclosure to be photographed. It’s suffered quite a few traumas over the years with various attempts over the centuries to renovate it, then in March 1928 the cheeks and lower jaw fell off and had to be rebuilt. One hundred and sixty—five grams of gold leaf pasted on it over the years was collected and used for a new head ornament. Visitors will note the distinctive Chinese character to it.
Open: daily, 09.00 to 18.00
Admission: 30 baht
St Joseph’s Church
A rather out of place structure in this ancient Asian capital, the church is the result of Portuguese missionaries who were among the first of a growing foreign community in Ayuthaya in the 16th century before all were expelled for 100 years. A school, hospital and missionary existed on the site from 1669, but the present structure, which is reminiscent of colonial churches of Latin America, was rebuilt long after being destroyed after the Burmese invasion.
Open: always
Admission: none
Elephant Kraal
On the theme of elephants, the Elephant Kraal to the northeast of the city and outside the moat is a must–see. The Kraal dates from the 16th century and was originally used to trap wild elephants when the ensuing struggles were presided over by royalty. Huge teak posts have been sunk into the ground to form a fence, keeping the animals secure while humans wonder in and out. Today the elephants are cared for and trained here, some of which can be found wondering around the compound. Elephant rides can also be taken in the city itself from near Wat Si Sanphet. They are dressed in traditional regalia and make a fine souvenir photo!.
Open: daily
Admission: free, donations appreciated
Pom Phet Fortress
A small bastion located on the south side of the island facing the river’s departing course, this site is about the only remaining fortifications of the city and isn’t much to see. However, from this point you can take a ferry ride across to Wat Phanan Choeng.
Open: always
Admission: none
Bang Pa–In Palace
This is not strictly part of Ayuthaya, with far less historic value and built long after the city’s sacking, but it’s included on all tours of the area. Built as a summer retreat by King Rama V, who had a soft–spot for anything European, it is an eclectic mix of 19th century European palace buildings and pavilions set about among pretty ponds. The atmosphere is serene and the palace is good for photographing. The Chao Praya River slides by quietly, and while pondering it, consider the story of one of the king’s consorts who drowned here after falling out of a boat. She could not swim and bystanders were too afraid as commoners to touch a royal, so no one was willing to help her.
Open: daily, 08.30 to 15.30
Admission: 100 baht
Recommended Tours
Touring ancient Ayutthaya by bike (1 day)
Luxury river cruise (3 days/2 nights)
River of Kings cycling tour (14 days/13 nights)
