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.
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.
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.
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.
ClimateAyutthaya, 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.
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.
How to get there: The temple is close to Riverview Hotel and
easily accessible from the railway station by tuk-tuk or taxi.
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
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.
Thank you for your attention
