The majestic old city. The former capital of the Siamese Kingdom.
Founded in 1350 and flourished throughout the 14th to 18th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the world's largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and was a center of global diplomacy and commerce. Situated strategically on an island and surrounded by three rivers, connecting the city to the sea, it was known as The Venice of the East. It had been governed by a total of 35 Kings and had more than 1,500 temples and 4,000 statues.
The city was attacked and burned to the ground by the Burmese army in 1767 and forced its inhabitants to abandon the city. It was never rebuilt in the same location and the capital of the restored kingdom was then moved to Bangkok.
Ayutthaya, remains today as an archaeological site, characterized by tall towers and Buddhist monasteries, which showcased the city's past splendors. Foreign influences can be seen in the surviving architecture ruins, which was initially inherited from Angkor and later borrowed the styles of Japan, China, India, Persia and Europe.
Okay, those are some historical facts which was dug up from the net. We actually didn't know the city existed until it popped up in one of our searches. All the while, we only knew that Bangkok was the capital. Ayutthaya was never mentioned. We thought, why not go and have a look? So off we went to have a taste of the old city.
The ancient royal monastery of Wat Yai Chaimongkol - a Buddhist temple which also served as national education hub for the schooling of royal offspring. It features the Reclining Buddha, the Great Pagoda and the monument of King Naresuan, who is considered as a hero of all Thailand.
Another point definitely not to be missed - The Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. It houses four temples from the Early Ayutthaya Period - Wat Phra Ram, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana - as well as the Royal Palace and Wiharn Phra Mongkol Bophit.
Honestly speaking, we didn't quite know which temple was which, as there were no signs or marks to indicate them. There weren't any descriptions placed to describe the sandstones either. So all we did was to roam every corner of the site and gazed upon the centuries old structures under the intense heat of the sun.
One iconic image, located alongside a wall, was a lone Buddha's head entwined in the roots of an overgrown banyan tree. The Buddha head of Wan Mahathat is extremely popular with tourists, with flocks of them hovering around the tree and waiting in line to snap a picture of it. No one knows for sure how the head ended up in the tree, with many theories surrounding it but none confirmed.
We didn't manage to see all of the temples, there were just too many to cover in one day. The stories that were held in each of them, the events that they have witnessed, just can't be fully revealed with just a few glimpses. It had been good enough to be have stepped foot on the ancient city, which have endured the centuries.
With that marked the end of our escapade. Time is always insufficient on vacations. Wished we had more time to see more. It had been one fulfilling yet exhausting journey. We have seen and brought back so much. Changes our perspectives on life a little. All those talks years go about a trip together had finally been realized.
All right then, till the next vacation.....
Founded in 1350 and flourished throughout the 14th to 18th centuries. At its peak, it was one of the world's largest and most cosmopolitan urban areas and was a center of global diplomacy and commerce. Situated strategically on an island and surrounded by three rivers, connecting the city to the sea, it was known as The Venice of the East. It had been governed by a total of 35 Kings and had more than 1,500 temples and 4,000 statues.
The city was attacked and burned to the ground by the Burmese army in 1767 and forced its inhabitants to abandon the city. It was never rebuilt in the same location and the capital of the restored kingdom was then moved to Bangkok.
Ayutthaya, remains today as an archaeological site, characterized by tall towers and Buddhist monasteries, which showcased the city's past splendors. Foreign influences can be seen in the surviving architecture ruins, which was initially inherited from Angkor and later borrowed the styles of Japan, China, India, Persia and Europe.
Okay, those are some historical facts which was dug up from the net. We actually didn't know the city existed until it popped up in one of our searches. All the while, we only knew that Bangkok was the capital. Ayutthaya was never mentioned. We thought, why not go and have a look? So off we went to have a taste of the old city.
The ancient royal monastery of Wat Yai Chaimongkol - a Buddhist temple which also served as national education hub for the schooling of royal offspring. It features the Reclining Buddha, the Great Pagoda and the monument of King Naresuan, who is considered as a hero of all Thailand.
Another point definitely not to be missed - The Ayutthaya Historical Park, a UNESCO world heritage site. It houses four temples from the Early Ayutthaya Period - Wat Phra Ram, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat and Wat Ratchaburana - as well as the Royal Palace and Wiharn Phra Mongkol Bophit.
Honestly speaking, we didn't quite know which temple was which, as there were no signs or marks to indicate them. There weren't any descriptions placed to describe the sandstones either. So all we did was to roam every corner of the site and gazed upon the centuries old structures under the intense heat of the sun.
One iconic image, located alongside a wall, was a lone Buddha's head entwined in the roots of an overgrown banyan tree. The Buddha head of Wan Mahathat is extremely popular with tourists, with flocks of them hovering around the tree and waiting in line to snap a picture of it. No one knows for sure how the head ended up in the tree, with many theories surrounding it but none confirmed.
We didn't manage to see all of the temples, there were just too many to cover in one day. The stories that were held in each of them, the events that they have witnessed, just can't be fully revealed with just a few glimpses. It had been good enough to be have stepped foot on the ancient city, which have endured the centuries.
With that marked the end of our escapade. Time is always insufficient on vacations. Wished we had more time to see more. It had been one fulfilling yet exhausting journey. We have seen and brought back so much. Changes our perspectives on life a little. All those talks years go about a trip together had finally been realized.
All right then, till the next vacation.....
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