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The main chapel boasts an ornate hand-carved wooden gable and baluster windows which is a unique architectural feature of the Middle Ayutthaya Period — Existing well before King U-Thong founded the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the temple houses a revered Buddha image dating back to and an ornate Chinese shrine dedicated to an Ayodhya Queen. This area used to be occupied by Chinese merchants, who transformed it into a lively commercial area with goods from China, including gold, porcelain and Chinese silk. The temple contains a large bronze Buddha image — the oldest in Ayutthaya — built in Walk around the main chapel to the riverside and pay respect to the Queen at the Chinese shrine.
It is widely believed that the queen will fulfill a wish of those in search of a soul-mate. Serving as the Royal Monastery from to , the temple occupies expansive grounds inside the walls of the now-collapsed Royal Palace. The three iconic chedis — housing the royal relics of three Ayutthaya Kings — are among the few structures left standing in the temple grounds, which is itself a must-see ruin site. On what appears as empty space between the three chedis once stood two mandapas for storing Buddhist scriptures and religious relics.
Continue walking towards the north and you will reach the entrance to the Royal Palace. Surrounding the principal chedi are cloister walls lined with several Buddha images — a unique architectural feature of the Early Ayutthaya Period. It was ransacked and burned by the Burmese, then finally restored to its original glory in Although it houses a Buddha image, Wiharn Phra Mongkol Bophit is not a temple because it is the only structure standing, built on the original site of Wat Chi Chiang, which was burned down in along with the rest of Ayutthaya.
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Book your tickets online for the top things to do in Ayutthaya, Thailand on TripAdvisor: See traveler reviews and photos of Ayutthaya tourist attractions. Ayutthaya is Thailand's hidden archaeological gem, brimming with Buddhist temples, monasteries and ancient statues of monumental.
Mantra Samui Resort 4. Bangkok Marriott Hotel Sukhumvit 4. Bang Pa-In Summer Palace Constructed during the reign of King Prasat Thong , this riverside palace complex 20km south of Ayutthaya is set in a lovely landscaped lake garden that was once an island itself. Hire a tuk-tuk from the train station or take the train Hide Map Show Map. Chao Sam Phraya National Museum This two-storey museum houses most of the excavated artifacts from Wat Ratchaburana and other temples across Ayutthaya. From highway , cross the bridge to the inner city and keep going straight until you see the museum on your left-hand side.
Hide Map Show Map. Chan Kasem Palace This enclosed palace complex at the confluence of the Pa Sak and Lopburi Rivers was the royal residence of King Naresuan the Great in and several subsequent crown princes.
Khlong Sra Bua Floating Market More of a cultural theatre than a functional market, Khlong Sra Bua Floating Market is a replica of the ancient Khlong Sra Bua village, a community of clay potters and home to an important river trade route north of town. When you see King Naresuan Monument on your left, the floating market will be on your right. Turn left into U-Thong and the museum will be on your right-hand side. Wat Chai Wattanaram Set across the river, facing the inner city, this royal temple boasts one of the most elaborate interpretations of the Mount Meru concept in ancient Khmer architecture, which influenced heavily the architectural style of the Late Ayutthaya Period — Western bank of the Chao Phraya River How to get there: From U-Thong Road, cross the bridge on the western part of the island Highway , turn left at the first intersection and continue on for about 2km Hide Map Show Map.
Wat Na Phramen This was the only temple left intact at the time Ayutthaya fell, as it was used as a military headquarters by the Burmese army. North of the Royal Palace, across the river to the outer city area How to get there: From the Royal Palace, head north on Naresuan Road and cross the bridge, then continue about 20 metres and the temple is on your left. Wat Phanunchoeng Existing well before King U-Thong founded the Ayutthaya Kingdom, the temple houses a revered Buddha image dating back to and an ornate Chinese shrine dedicated to an Ayodhya Queen.
Seated in the Subduing Mara or Touching the Earth posture, the image is Read more about Wiharn Phra Mongkhon Bophit. Construction on the massive Wat Mahathat complex is though to have begun in the s, shortly after Ayutthaya was founded. Read more about Wat Mahathat. In , the death of King Intharacharthirat left the throne open to one of three sons. Read more about Wat Ratchaburana. In our opinion this is all the more reason to go. The temple was established in by King Read more about Wat Phra Ram. Stretching along the western edge of the Historical Park beyond the Ancient Palace grounds, the highlight of Wat Lokkayasutharam is a metre-long reclining Buddha made of brick and finished with white plaster.
Joseph's Church , which still stands today. South of the island King Uthong established Wat Phutthaisawan in to memorialise the campsite where he lived while his new city was being built on the island. Bang Pa-In Summer Palace Constructed during the reign of King Prasat Thong , this riverside palace complex 20km south of Ayutthaya is set in a lovely landscaped lake garden that was once an island itself. I was thinking of visiting Ayutthaya for only a day but your post has convinced me to stay for at least nights. Below are some highly rated hotels in these areas:. The largest temple in Ayutthaya, this is one that you absolutely cannot miss. Types of Things to Do.
The image of Buddha serenely smiling at the moment of his bodily extinguishment into Nirvana stands eight metres tall at the head, which rests on the image of a lotus flower. Read more about Wat Lokkayasutharam.
One of the few large sets of ruins in Ayutthaya that are now part of a Read more about Wat Thammasikarat. Read more about Khun Phaen's Residence. The Burmese invaders didn't leave much behind in , but what they missed can be viewed at the s-built Chao Sam Phraya National Museum. Starting your visit to Ayutthaya here will provide a bit of historical context for exploring the nearby ruins. Named in honour of the third Ayutthayan king, the museum includes three large exhibition areas displaying solid gold swords; an array of The Chantharakasem National Museum would be more accurately described as a palace thanks to the old royal pavilions, which are the main draws.
Read more about Chantharakasem National Museum. Born in Ayutthaya in , Pridi Panomyong was among the most influential and controversial Thai figures of the 20th century. The stilted wood house where he grew up has been painstakingly restored and now stands as a memorial to a man who helped to shape the face of modern Thailand.
Read more about Pridi Panomyong Memorial. The most prominent female figure to emerge from Ayutthayan history, Suriyothai was a queen during the 16th century when war was commonplace in the region. In a battle on elephant back during the Burmese-Siamese War of , she was Read more about Chedi Phra Sri Suriyothai. Travellers with kids in tow will probably want to factor in a visit.
Read more about Million Toy Museum. Beyond the most popular ruins found in the central Historical Park, Ayutthaya boasts a bunch of outlying temples and other sites that can be equally rewarding — but require more effort to reach. Read more about Exploring Ayutthaya's outlying temples. King Prasat Thong ordered the magnificent Wat Chaiwatthanaram to be constructed along the south bank of the Chao Phraya River after returning victorious from an invasion of Khmer lands in Read more about Wat Chaiwatthanaram.
King Uthong established Wat Phutthaisawan in to memorialise the campsite where he lived while his new city was being built on the island.
The riverside complex features both a modern working temple and an ancient Khmer-style prang rimmed by picturesque cloisters, with plenty to distract you in between. This is one of our favourite sites in Read more about Wat Phutthaisawan. Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon is one of the more widely visited sites off the island, and for good reason.
Established as a meditation and study centre by King Uthong shortly after the founding of Ayutthaya, the monastery became more closely associated with King Naresuan after he erected a massive stupa here in commemoration of a pivotal Siamese victory over the Burmese in Read more about Wat Yai Chai Mongkhon. Covering a large area at the confluence of the Prasak and Chao Phraya rivers, Wat Phanan Choeng boasts one of the largest, most beautiful and most highly revered Buddha images in Ayutthaya. The often-crowded complex also stands as a centre of a Chinese community that predates the city.
Read more about Wat Phanan Choeng. Wat Maheyong was most likely used as a meditation venue on the quiet eastern fringe of the city after its establishment by King Borommarachathirat II in Now overseen by an adjacent monastery that itself focuses on vipassana meditation, the atmospheric ruins are a pleasure to wander Read more about Wat Maheyong. An active temple with a potent history, Wat Na Phra Men was built some time around the turn of the 16th century across the Lopburi River now the Mueang Canal from the north side of the island. Read more about Wat Na Phra Men.
Now a mere shadow of its 17th-century glory, Wat Choeng Tha was once situated in front of the royal boatyard, directly across the Lopburi River from the Royal Palace. Probably established before the founding of Ayutthaya, the temple has had a bewildering Read more about Wat Choeng Tha. Read more about Chedi Phu Khao Thong. Set atop a large gold-tinted base, the statue shows a fierce-looking Suriyothai clutching clubs from atop a bull elephant as a team of foot soldiers protects her down below. Read more about Queen Suriyothai Monument. In work, warfare and spirituality, elephants played important roles in ancient Ayutthaya.
The Royal Elephant Kraal was moved to its current location in the 16th century and used for elephant roundups as late as Visitors can stop by for a quick visit or hang around for the Elephant Stay In the 17th century, some 1, Japanese lived in a village that stretched for a kilometre along the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River, just south of the Dutch settlement and across from the Portuguese. Now a museum tells the story of how the Japanese influenced the city, and how it changed them.
Two exhibition buildings include videos, comprehensive info boards and displays. Read more about Japanese Village.