Thailand has a lot to offer, from its modern beauty to its old yet magnificent cultural history. Thailand is one of the most historic country to visit because of its century old temples or just its mere historic sites, one of those is Ayutthaya. Many of the ruins found at Ayutthaya Historical Park took some 150 years to complete. The city, which was the second capital of Siam after Sukhothai, flourished for around 400 years before it was eventually destroyed by the Burmese. Many of the structures found in the city were made of wood, which did not endure the fires that eventually destroyed the city. Only the stone structures remain, but these themselves, regardless of wear and tear, are some of the most spectacular remains in all of Southeast Asia. The temples’ construction reflects both Siamese and Khmer architecture, and the ruins were so noteworthy they were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1991.
There are plenty of things to do in Ayutthaya to keep travelers busy all day. Crowned a UNESCO World Heritage site, Ayutthaya is famous for the historical park where you can explore ancient ruins, temples, and palaces – all Instagram picture perfects. Other fun attractions to substitute or add to a day full of history and temple ruins are rustic villages, museums, elephant sanctuaries, and even floating markets to hang out and pick up cute souvenirs to take home. If you’re a foodie, you’ll find Ayutthaya a heaven – restaurants and street vendors serving traditional Thai dishes and granny-recipe desserts dot every street corner.
Indeed, Ayutthaya has a lot to offer, from its majestic temples and religious sites that showcase the strength and beauty of the old kingdom, to the astounding beauty of each significant sites. Here are some of the best tourist sites to visit in Ayutthaya:
- Wat Chaiwatthanaram
- Wat Phra Si Sanphet
- Wat Ratchaburana
- Wat Mahathat
- Wat Yai Chai Mongkol
- Wat Na Phra Men
- Wat Thammikarat
- Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
- Wat Suwan Dararam
- Bang Pa-in Palace
- Foreign Quarters
- Elephant Stay
Driving Around Ayutthaya
Being at least 2 hours away from Bangkok, Ayutthaya is one of the most frequently visited tourist sites in Thailand. Going to Ayutthaya is accessible through expressways and it’s not that hard to navigate as there will be a lot of signs leading to the site. Driving around Ayutthaya is easy as the tourist sites are quite near to each other. It is mostly accessible with car so renting a car is the best option for you to be able to maximize your time at the historic and once glorious capital of Thailand. Navigating your way through the temples and tourist sites in Ayutthaya is not hard because there’s a lot of road signs and directions going to each site. For your reference, please see the map below:
