Ayutthaya Historical Park
The Ayutthaya Historical Park is the remains of the ancient city destroyed by invading Burmese troops in 1767. Before that it was a huge city that served as a major trading hub in the region. It was capital of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya which preceded Siam. Siam of course became modern day Thailand.
Most noteworthy is that in 1700 with over 1 million inhabitants it was the largest city in the world. In comparison London’s population at this time was around 630,000. This demonstrates the importance that it had in Asia at the time.
Its only 2 hours north of Bangkok by train so a great place to visit if you are in the area. It can be done as a day trip though i’d recommend an overnight stay so you can fully explore the area. Many people just explore the main ‘zone’ but be sure to head to Wat Lokaya Sutha as well. It’s here you can see the giant reclining Buddha as pictured below. You can generally get around on foot though in the heat it may be wise to take a tuk tuk. There are plenty of drivers around, always negotiate a fair price.
It’s also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You can read more on it and other ancient Thai cities here.
I visited the Ayutthaya Historical Park in November 2015 and these are some photos I took of it. I hope they inspire you to plan your own trip to see the park.
Thinking of visiting? Have a look at my country guide to Thailand.
Furthermore take a look at my travel advice regarding Buddhism as it’s important to respect the local culture and religion.
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