Ayutthaya (Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya) is one of Thailand's major tourist attractions is about 80 kilometers north of Bangkok. Originally founded by King U-Thong in 1350 within a bend of the Chao Phraya Basin, Ayutthaya was the capital of the Kingdom of Thailand at its mightiest. Conquered and sacked by the Burmese in 1767, today only the ruins of its splendor remain. The modern city was founded a few kilometers further east.

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province covers an area of 2,500 square kilometers, which is divided into 16 districts (Amphoe). The districts are divided in to sub districts (Tambon) which are then divided in to villages (Murban).

The province comprises of 16 districts, Amphoe Muang Ayutthaya, Bang Ban, Bang Pa Han, U-Thai, Bang Pa-in, Nakhon Luang, Sena, Wang Noi, Maha Rat, Phachi, Phak Hai, Bang Sai Bang Sai, Ban Phraek, Tha Ruea and Lat Bua Luang. Neighboring provinces are (from north clockwise) Ang Thong, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom and Suphan Buri.

During the Period of Ayutthaya being the Thai Capital 33 kings reigned in the kingdom from different dynasties, for 417 years the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was the dominant power in the fertile Menam or Chao Phraya Basin. Ayutthaya. Its capital was an island city situated at the confluence of three rivers, the Chao Phraya, Pasak, and the Lopburi Rivers.

Ayutthaya even had diplomatic relations with Louis XIV of France plus lots of foreign merchants resided in the capital. Japanese, British, Dutch, Portuguese, to name a few. The Thais were some what fortunate and complacent, having enjoyed over a century of comparative peace.

Ayutthaya finally succumbed to the Burmese in April 1767 after a 15 month siege. The Burmese sacked and burnt the city, putting an end to one of the most politically glorious and culturally influential epochs in Thai History.

In 1782 Bangkok became the Capital of Thailand the move was historically important, Thai power shifted closer to the coast and Thailand became more oriented towards commerce. Their capital would never again be inland.

Wat Phananchoeng is home to a huge Buddha image just outside the island city, was cast over twenty years before King Ramathibodi 1 moved his residence to the city area in 1350. It’s easy to see why the Ayutthaya area was settled prior to this date. Since the area offered a variety of geographical and economic advantages.

Wat Chai Watthanaram is located on the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, outside Ayutthaya Island. It is one of Ayutthaya's most beautiful temples and a major tourist attraction.

Construction of the temple began in 1630 at the request of King Prasat Thong for the memorial of his mother's resident in that area. The temples name literally means the Temple of long reign and glorious era. It was designed in Khmer style which was popular at that time.

Wat Niwet Thamprawat is the monastery located to the south of an island in the Chao Phraya River, on the riverbank opposite the royal palace. In 1878, King Rama V ordered its construction to have the same architectural style of a Western cathedral. The building and its decorations are of Gothic style and beautified with colorful stained glass.

Wat Kasattrathirat Worawihan is the monastery located outside Ko Mueang, opposite Chedi Phra Si Suriyothai, on the bank of the Chao Phraya River. Its former name was Kasattra or Kasattraram. It is an ancient temple of the Ayutthaya period with a main Prang (stupa) as its centre.

Phra Chedi Sisuriyothai, (U-Thong Road) is a white and gold colored chedi is located in Ko Mueang to the west of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park. It is built as a memorial to a previous queen. Set in small well kept gardens, it’s the memorial for the first heroine in Siamese history; the ancient place is of much importance as a proof of honor that the ancient Siamese society gave to Thai women.

Chao Sam Phraya National Museum Rojana Rd is where you can find some of the Buddha heads that are so conspicuously missing at the sites themselves. Opened in 1961 and looks the part. Perhaps the most interesting displays are the golden regalia from Wat Ratchaburana. The Museum is open Wed - Sun from 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Admission 30 Baht.

Ayutthaya Historical Study Centre Rojana Road is to the east of the Chao Phraya national museum, is a more modern museum that tries to depict life in Ayutthaya with models. It is a national research institute devoted to the study of Ayutthaya, especially during the period when Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam. The centre is open every day from 9.00 a.m. - 4.30 p.m. Admission 100 Baht. For further details Telephone: 0 35-24 5123-4.

Ayutthaya Tourism Centre is located at the province’s old city hall established by the Fine Arts Department and developed to be a tourist information centre by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT). The high reliefs of 6 great kings and queens from the Ayutthaya Kingdom.

King U Thong, King Borommatrailokanat, Queen Suriyothai, King Naresuan the Great, King Narai the Great and King Taksin the Great on the facade of the building remain in their original positions. The right wing in the front serves as TAT’s Tourist Information Centre. Open daily from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. For more details, Telephone: +66 (0) 35 322730–1.

The Japanese Village Tambon Ko Rian. In the late 16th Century, there were many foreign commercial traders coming to Ayutthaya. Japanese merchandisers were permitted to sail their junks to trade with foreigners. A number of them came to Ayutthaya and were granted royal permission by the Siamese king at that time to settle around the city island of the Ayutthaya Kingdom like the traders of other nationalities. Open daily from 8:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Admission 20 Baht.

Arts and Crafts Village the establishment of this village was supported by the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) in order to show the different aspects of architecture of the Thai houses in the various regions of Thailand as well as their ways of living and culture.

The village features lifestyle and handicraft demonstrations daily between 8:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. on weekdays and 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. on weekends. Thai classical dances and folk entertainment of the 4 regions of Thailand are performed during 4:30 - 5:30 p.m. on weekends and national holidays.

The Market Place was built to facilitate sales of handicrafts and OTOP products from the 76 provinces of Thailand. It is open everyday Monday - Friday from 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday - Sunday and national holidays from 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. For more information Telephone: +66 (0) 35 367054-9, or visit website.

Bang Sai Arts and Crafts Centre Fair is held at the end of January annually at Bang Sai Arts and Crafts Centre, the Fair features displays and contests of the arts and crafts products, sales of local products and cultural performances.

Songkran Festival is held annually on the 13th April in front of Wihan Phra Mongkhon Bophit, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, it features a traditional procession, Thoet Thoeng drums procession, Song Nam Phra ceremony of the miniature of Phra Mongkhon Bophit image, and Nang Songkran beauty contest.

Wai Khru Bucha Tao Ceremony is held around April - May the ceremony held by blacksmiths and knife makers of Aranyik knives at Ban Ton Pho, Ban Phai Nong and Ban Salai, Tambon Tha Chang, Amphoe Nakhon Luang to pay salute to their masters and forge spirits.

Bang Sai Loi Krathong and Traditional Long Boat Races the annual festival is held towards the end of November at the Bang Sai Arts and Crafts Centre, Amphoe Bang Sai. Activities include Nang Nopphamat beauty contest, contests of processions, Krathongs, and hanging lanterns, folk entertainment, traditional and international long boat races, and sales of the Centre’s products.

Ayutthaya World Heritage Fair is held in December to commemorate the occasion of the Ayutthaya Historical Park being declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO on 13 December, 1991, a celebration is held annually for one week during the same period of the year. The Fair features local ways of life, handicrafts, Thai traditions and culture as well as the light and sound presentation on the history of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya.

Ayutthaya Maha Mongkhon the Buddhist Lent Festival Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Provincial Administration in collaboration with the Tourism Business Association and TAT Central Region Office: Region 6, organise the Ayutthaya Maha Mongkhon program for participants wishing to visit 9 temples in the province during the Buddhist Lent Festival.  For more information, contact the Ayutthaya Tourism Business Association at Tel. 0 3521 3828–9 ext. 101.

By car or minibus from Bangkok, one can get to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya by various routes; the journey takes just over an hour depending on traffic and route taken.

Minibuses depart from the Victory Monument square in Bangkok the minibuses are parked at the side of the main traffic circle. The journey takes between 1 - 1.5 hours and is quite convenient since you don't have to go to bus terminals the only problem is that the minibuses don't have much space to put big bags and have to wait until the car is fully filled.

The Train is the most colorful way of reaching Ayutthaya, north and northeast line trains depart from the Hua lamphong Train Station Bangkok and stop in Ayutthaya, the journey takes about 1.5 hours. Trains pass by the province’s Amphoe Bang Pa-in, Amphoe Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Amphoe Phachi, where at Ban Phachi Junction the railway lines separate to the North and Northeast. Then, minibuses can be taken from the railway station into the city. For further information visit The State Railway of Thailand.

First class air conditioned and second class buses depart daily from 4:30 a.m. - 7:15 p.m. every 20 minutes or so from the Northern Bus Terminal Bangkok (Mo Chit) directly to Ayutthaya. Allow at least two hours for the trip since the buses stop rather frequently and there are often jams on the roads, in and out of Bangkok. For more details, please call Tel. 0 2936 2852-66 or visit website. Ayutthaya Bus Terminal, Telephone: +66 (0) 35 335304.

Getting around Ayutthaya, Ayutthaya's tuk tuks are larger than the Bangkok variety and you can easily squeeze in four or more on the two songthaew style facing benches. TOT runs Trams around the main tourist attractions, you can hop-on & hop-off, alternatively you can rent a bicycle or motorbike.

Transport Services Thailand

Cruise boats run up the river from Bangkok, often stopping at Ko Kret and Bang Pa-In along the way. You'll need to book in advance as there are no scheduled services, just trips for tourists. Traveling by boat to Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is popular among visitors as it reveals the beauty and the lifestyle of the people on both sides of the Chao Phraya River, and reflects the life in history at the time of the Ayutthaya Kingdom when the Chao Phraya River served as a channel of transportation in trading with foreign countries.

Tour Companies in Bangkok offer many different tour options to Ayutthaya. The majority visit Ayutthaya for 3 to 5 hours returning back to Bangkok after lunch. One of the nicer tours is to travel to Ayutthaya by air conditioned bus, wander around the ancient city grounds and explore some of the temples. Visit Bang Pa In the (Summer Palace of the late King Rama V) return to Bangkok. On a luxury air conditioned cruiser along the Chao Phraya River, lunch is served on board.

Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province has plenty of hotels and accommodation to suit all tastes and budgets, many travelers simply get the train or bus from Bangkok approximately 90 minutes, after exploring the city move on to another town. Offering them an inexpensive way to tour and see the real Thailand.