Ayutthaya Today (blog10)

Ayutthaya is one of Thailand's historical highlights. Many travellers take the day tour from Bangkok, which allows about 3 hours at the sites, but for folks with an interest in archaeological ruins, Ayutthaya justifies an overnight or more.

 History of Ayutthaya
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya or Ayutthaya in short, is one of Thailand’s historical and majestic highlights. Serving as the Thai capital for 417 years (1350 1767: Kingdom of Ayutthaya), it was once glorified as one of the biggest cities in Southeast Asia. During the 17th century, most foreign visitors to Ayutthaya, traders or diplomats alike, claimed Ayutthaya to be the most illustrious and glittering city that they had ever visited. The map of Ayutthaya published in 1691 by Simon de la Loubere in Du Royaume De Siam is proof of such recognition.

The Kingdom of Ayutthaya reached its apex in terms of sovereignty, military might, wealth, culture, and international commerce in the 16th century when the Kingdoms territory was extended far beyond present-day Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Ayutthaya even had diplomatic relations with Louis XIV of France and was courted by Dutch, Portuguese, English, Chinese and Japanese merchants.
Visitors can explore and appreciate Thai history in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, which is situated only 76 kilometers north of Bangkok. Visitors to Ayutthaya can marvel at its grandeur reflected through numerous magnificent structures and ruins concentrated in and around the city island surrounded by Maenam Chao Phraya, Maenam Pa Sak and Maenam Lopburi.

More importantly,Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, an extensive historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO’s World Heritage list since 13 December, 1991
The Past

The Kingdom of Ayutthaya was built and developed in leaps and bounds. The ruins in Ayutthaya that survived the test of time embody both the glorious and ignominious stories of the Kingdom.

This ancient capital of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350 by King U-Thong, had thirty three kings of different dynasties and reached its peak in the middle of the18th century. A magnificent city with three palaces and over 400 magnificent temples on an island threaded by canals Ayutthaya was truly an impressive city that attracted both Europeans and Asians. After a 15-month siege the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was conquered and completely destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. When King Taksin the Great finally liberated the Kingdom, a new dynasty was established and the capital was moved to Thonburi.

The seal of Ayutthaya depicts a conch on a pedestal tray placed in a small castle under a Mun tree. According to legend, King U-Thong, founder of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, discovered a beautiful conch buried in the ground being prepared for the establishment of the seat of his Kingdom. Consequently, he had a tiny castle built to house the shell. Hence, the provincial seal.

The Present

Today, there are but groups of crumbling ruins and rows of headless Buddhas where once an empire thrived. The temple compounds are still awe-inspiring even in disrepair and a visit here is memorable and a good beginning for those drawn to the relics of history.

The architecture of Ayutthaya is a fascinating mix of Khmer (ancient Cambodian style) and early Sukhothai style. Some cactus-shaped obelisks, called prangs, denote Khmer influence and look something like the famous towers of Angkor Wat. The more pointed stupas are ascribed to the Sukhothai influence. For new arrivals who had limited their visit to Bangkok, similarities may be noted with the riverside Wat Arun, an 18th-century structure that was built in the so-called Ayutthaya style, a melding of Sukhothai Buddhist influences and Hindu-inspired Khmer motifs.

Ayutthaya is administratively divided into 16 districts: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ban Phraek, Bang Ban, Bang Pahan, Bang Pa-in, Amphoe Bang Sai, Bang Sai, Lat Bua Luang, Maha Rat, Nakhon Luang, Phachi, Phak-Hai, Sena, Tha Rua, Uthai and Wang Noi.

 

Geography

 Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, covering 2,556 square kilometres, is located in the flat river plain of the Chao Phraya river valley. The presence of the Lop Buri and Pa Sak rivers makes the province a major rice farming area.

Climate
Ayutthaya, located in the central plains, is affected by three seasons:

• Hot Season: March – May
• Rainy season: June – October
• Cool season: November - February

Climate data for Ayutthaya
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Average high °C (°F)	31.0 (87.8)	33.3 (91.9)	35.4 (95.7)	35.9 (96.6)	34.3 (93.7)	32.6 (90.7)	32.0 (89.6)	31.4 (88.5)	31.3 (88.3)	31.3 (88.3)	30.7 (87.3)	30.0 (86.0)	32.4 (90.3)
Average low °C (°F)	17.0 (62.6)	19.4 (66.9)	22.3 (72.1)	24.3 (75.7)	24.5 (76.1)	24.3 (75.7)	24.0 (75.2)	23.8 (74.8)	23.5 (74.3)	22.5 (72.5)	20.0 (68.0)	17.4 (63.3)	21.9 (71.4)
Rainfall mm (inches)	2.4 (0.094)	18.8 (0.74)	43.5 (1.713)	67.9 (2.673)	208.0 (8.189)	223.0 (8.78)	180.8 (7.118)	260.0 (10.236)	213.9 (8.421)	167.6 (6.598)	37.1 (1.461)	0.8 (0.031)	1,423.8 (56.055)
Avg. rainy days	0	1	4	6	15	16	17	19	17	12	3	1	111
Source: Thai Meteorological Department

Population

Ayutthaya became the second Siamese capital after Sukhothai. Its remains, characterized by the prang (reliquary towers) and gigantic monasteries, give an idea of its past splendor.It is estimated that Ayutthaya by the year 1600 CE had a population of about 300,000, with the population perhaps reaching 1,000,000 around 1700 CE, making it one of the world's largest cities at that time. In 1767, the city was destroyed by the Burmese army, resulting in the collapse of the kingdom. The Ayutthaya historical park is the ruins of the former capital of the Kingdom of Siam. It is the site of mass murder, rape and enslavement of Siamese people and destruction of the Ayutthaya city, its art and buildings by the Burmese in 1767, which is recognized internationally as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The city was refounded a few kilometers to the east. The city is sometimes called "Venice of the East". The population of Ayutthaya on January 1st 2011 is approximately 14,801. (Extrapolated from Thailand populations of 67,764,000 on September 13th 2009 and 63,723,953 on February 9th 2010, 18:52, and an Ayutthaya population of 54,888 in 2006.)

The current population of the municipality of Ayutthaya, there were 60,923 people, 16,512 of the average population density of 4,300 people per square kilometer.

                                                    

 Agriculture

With the passage of time, agriculture became the major ecoonomic factor during the Ayutthaya period. This can be clearly seen in the fact that King Borom Trailokanart of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya commanded the investiture of the Krom Na, the Bureau of Paddy Fields, which constituted one of the four columns of Thailand’s administrative entities of Jatusadom - composed of Wiang (the City), Wang (Bureau of the Lord Chamberlain), Klang (Bureau of the Exchequer), and Na (the Bureau of Paddy Fields). The Bureau of Paddy Fields was assigned with the tasks of overseeing, administering, and managing old Siam’s agricultural sector. Agriculture continuously constituted a major royal mission of the Thai Crown throughout the Ayutthaya period, giving rise to economic prosperity for the kingdom, as well as boosting up morale for the populace. Royal contributions took the forms of such ceremonies as the Royal Ploughing Ceremony in the 6th month of the lunar calendar just before cultivation began, the Piroonnasastra Ceremony, or the Royal Rain-seeking Ceremony, in the 10th month of the lunar calendar in years drought prevailed, as well as the Royal Predictive Rice-burning Ceremony in the 3rd month of the lunar calendar after harvesting was over.

Important Products in Ayutthaya Markets

 Mostly, important goods of Ayutthaya were wild products that the state received from the tax or tribute system which Ayutthaya population paid in stead of their workforce to the government. The products were sappanwood used to dye fabric, eaglewood used to make perfume, styrax benzoides used to make incense, sticklac used to make sealing wax, swallow nests used to make supplementary food, ivory and rhinoceros horns used in Chinese medicines, dear leather being popular in Japan and used to make warriors’ coats and gloves, and well-trained elephants used as vehicles and labor. Additonally, there were some important minerals: tin and lead. Moreover, there were important goods from many countries coming to Ayutthaya, for example silk, celadon and iron pans from China; silk and copper from Japan; cotton painted and printed in patterns from India; fabric and rose water from Persia, glass from Hollanda, weapons from Europe; and spices comprising pepper and clove from the groups of islands in this region.

Famous temples of Ayutthaya

A former capital in ancient times, Ayutthaya boasts some of the historically most important temples outside the capital. The ancient ruins of Ayutthaya feature a range of architectural styles including Khmer and Burmese influence, while some of the less ancient structures display aspects of Western influence. Some of the important temples in the area include Wat Phra Si San Phet, Wat Chaiwatthanaram, and Wat Yai Chai Mongkol.

Below is a list of some of the more important temples in the area. If you are in Ayutthaya for a limited amount of time, you should probably take a look at some of these temples first.

Example:

Wat Chaiwatthanaram

Ayutthaya

 

 Wat Chaiwatthanaram is an imposing monastery located in the west of Ayutthaya on the Chao Phraya River. It was built by King Prasat Thong in 1630 and its architecture is similar to that of Angkor Wat in Cambodia and it may have been built to commemorate the King’s victory over Thailand’s neighbor.

 

The temple comprises a main ‘prang’ (or tower) which is 35 meters tall surrounded by a series of smaller prangs situated alongside a gallery containing over 100 Buddha images. The temple is spacious and its well-kept grounds are peaceful. Well worth a visit if history and culture are your interest.

 

Details: Wat Chaiwatthanaram open dairy between 07.30 a.m. to 06.00 p.m.

Admission Fee: 50 Baht

How to get there: You can reach the temple’s ruins by a Tuk-Tuk from the town center. Long-tail boat services are available from Chankasem Palace.

 

Wat Phananchoeng

Ayutthaya

 

This monastery is located just south of Ayutthaya city on the east side of Chao Phraya River. Strangely, there is no record of when it was built or who built it; however, it is known that it was already built at the time Ayutthaya was established as capital.

 

The principal feature of the temple is its Wihan called "Luang Phor Phanan Choeng" (or "Sam Pa Kong" by the area’s ethnic Chinese). It was built in A.D. 1325 and hosts a formidable, towering Buddha image (created in 1324) that peers down at people as they enter the temple. According to legend the image wept when the Burmese invaded Ayutthaya. The temple is set in excellent rolling grounds with shaped bushes and hedges. The temple is highly revered by local ethnic Chinese and its design and decoration reflects this.

 How to get there: The temple is close to Riverview Hotel and easily accessible from the railway station by tuk-tuk or taxi.

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